Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 4, 2020 / 13:00 pm
Howard County in Maryland has issued new guidelines for the reopening of houses of worship, bringing its regulations in line with the rest of the state. A previous executive order had prohibited the consumption of any food or drink during religious service, effectively barring the celebration of Mass.
"Howard County will be aligning its reopening status with the State of Maryland, as well as [Gov. Larry Hogan's] previous orders, which includes allowing indoor faith services at 50% capacity as outlined by the Governor's Executive Order" said a release from the county on Wednesday, June 3. The updated guidance goes into effect this weekend.
Previously, an order from Howard County executive Calvin Ball, issued May 26, limited indoor religious services to 10 people, and limited outdoor services to 250 socially-distanced worshippers who were wearing masks during reopening. That executive order also banned the licit celebration of Mass by prohibiting the consumption of food or drink before, after, or during a religious service, but lifted that restriction following a report by CNA.
Following the May 26 county order, the Archdiocese of Baltimore expressed "serious concerns" about the restrictions it placed on Mass, noting that "for the Catholic community, the reception of Communion is central to our faith lives and to our public worship."