New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio sparked a controversy over the weekend when he warned churches could be closed “permanently” if they meet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mayor, during his Friday press conference on the coronavirus response, said the “vast majority” of religious communities have “stopped their traditional worship service” in the face of the pandemic.
“We’ve had extraordinary support from the leaders of major Christian denominations,” de Blasio said. “We’ve had extraordinary across-the-board rabbinical support from all the different elements of the Jewish community. And the same is true of other faiths, as well.”
But a “small number” of religious communities – “specific churches, specific synagogues” – are “unfortunately not paying attention to this guidance,” he said.
The state of New York is under a shelter-in-place order.
The New York Police Department and Fire Department, de Blasio said, will enforce the order.
“Everyone has been instructed that if they see worship services … going on, they will go to the officials of that congregation,” de Blasio said. “They will inform them they need to stop the services and disperse. If that does not happen, they will take additional action, up to the point of fines and potentially closing the building permanently.”
The mayor emphasized that he hopes penalties will not be…
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