Chicago area Catholics could soon be back to celebrating mass in person under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s modified stay-at-home order — on a tightly limited basis, from a safe social distance.
After a late revision to Pritzker’s extended order added a provision for “the free exercise of religion,” the local arm of the Catholic Church announced Friday it is planning to resume masses limited to 10 people under guidelines recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“From the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the Archdiocese of Chicago has followed the guidance of the competent civil authorities and agencies to ensure the safety of the faithful, clergy, staff and volunteers,” the archdiocese said in a statement. “We thank Governor Pritzker for his new guidance. We are engaged in planning for the resumption of Masses and other liturgies within the CDC guidance for 10-person attendance.”
The archdiocese would provide no details on where the sparsely attended, social distanced masses will resume or when.
Asked if Catholics could attend some public masses this Sunday, an archdiocesan spokeswoman would only say, “I’ll refer you to the governor’s order or his office for more specifics.”
Facing a federal lawsuit from a northwest Illinois church challenging the governor’s latest order, the Pritzker administration lateThursday added new language including limited religious services as permitted examples of leaving the home for “essential activities” during the coronavirus pandemic.
The new order, effective through May, says leaving home is allowed “to engage in the free exercise of religion, provided that such exercise must comply with Social Distancing Requirements and the limit on gatherings of more than 10 people in keeping with CDC guidelines for the protection of public health.”
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“Religious organizations and houses of worship are encouraged to use online or drive-in services to protect the health and safety of their congregants,” according to the order.
The Chicago archdiocese, which serves 2.2 million Catholics in Lake and Cook counties, has suspended masses since March 14, with Cardinal Blase Cupich encouraging parishes to broadcast their services online. Funerals have been limited to 10 people.
Other religious institutions across the city are still evaluating how to safely reopen their doors to the faithful.
Lee Zoldan, president of the Chicago Loop Synagogue, said they “want to reopen as soon as possible, but we haven’t gotten that far yet.”
In normal times, the 550-seat sanctuary holds three services a day during the week, plus Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon services.
“We want to get as many of those going again as soon as we can, but we need to know that people are safe,” Zoldan said.
The synagogue is also evaluating how congregants will feel comfortable returning. Some have contracted the virus, including a relative of a top synagogue administrator, Zoldan said.
“We can keep them socially distanced. It’s just a matter of how our membership feels in terms of walking in the building. I think everyone understands what’s going on. People have been very respectful of what we have going on and why we’re doing it. They want to keep people safe,” Zoldan said.
“We don’t want to put people at risk. That’s our focus.”
But Rabbi David Wolkenfeld said Pritzker’s latest order wouldn’t change things at his Lake View synagogue, Anshe Sholom, where some services and studies have been maintained online during the shutdown.
“We feel that it’s still too dangerous to gather. Obviously it’s something we eagerly look forward to, and something we miss terribly,” Wolkenfeld said.
The rabbi said that while working from home with his wife and five children, he’s on the phone or computer with community members throughout the day, but “we definitely miss our very active congregation.”
