Churches may have services, weddings and funerals

Places of worship in Minnesota may open at 25 percent occupancy starting today, as long as they follow public health guidelines, Governor Tim Walz said Saturday.
Walz expressed reservations with the change, which comes as the coronavirus continues to spread. But it resolved a conflict with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, which dropped plans to defy Walz and reopen churches Tuesday at one-third capacity.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda said in a statement the executive order from Walz is “an important breakthrough … that allows faith communities to accommodate up to 250 people for worship services, provided precautions are taken.”
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake) credited faith leaders with pushing for the change, saying churches “rightfully felt left behind as other businesses were given more room to reopen.”
Walz said the decision to loosen restrictions was difficult because even though worship is essential for many Minnesotans, large gatherings raise a significant risk of spreading the virus.
Many Minnesota religious leaders remain wary of reopening their doors to congregants amid the coronavirus outbreak, despite the new order from Walz.
Other religious leaders, and the mayors of both St. Paul and Minneapolis, say the risks in resuming religious services are still great, especially to vulnerable populations.
"It is irresponsible to be inviting people right now to worship within the walls of our congregation's building," the Rev. Timothy Hart-Andersen, senior pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis, wrote in an e-mail.
The Walz administration on Saturday published 14 pages of guidance on reopening places of worship for regular services, weddings and funerals.