TODAY: Press call to discuss Minnesota churches’ decision to reopen without Governor’s blessing Catholic and Lutheran Churches announced they would reopen in letter to Governor Walz

WASHINGTON – The Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in Minnesota sent Governor Tim Walz letters yesterday announcing that they would be resuming worship services on May 26 despite Governor Walz’s current COVID-19 executive order, which allows retailers to operate at 50 percent capacity but caps church worship services at ten people. Governor Walz’s latest re-opening order allows the Mall of America to open its doors to those seeking retail therapy but disallows churches from providing spiritual healing to their congregations. At the same time, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty sent Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison a legal letter explaining why continuing to keep churches closed violates the First Amendment.  

Join Becket for a press call this morning to discuss the churches’ decision to resume in-person worship services, while observing rigorous social distancing and hygiene protocols, without the state’s support. 

What:
Press Call to discuss Minnesota Churches’ Challenge to COVID-19 Executive Order  

Who:
Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket (Available for interviews)
Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford, President of The Minnesota South District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod 

When:
Today at 10:00 a.m. EDT/9:00 a.m. CDT

Press Call Information:
646-876-9923 | Pin #: 930-944-5568 | or join http://zoom.us/my/comms.line.external 

 Email questions in advance to media@becketlaw.org 

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Ryan Colby at  media@becketlaw.org  or 202-349-7219.  Interviews can be arranged in English, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.