NEW JERSEY — Thanks to Gov. Phil Murphy’s new executive order on Wednesday — which allows public gatherings in cars, including graduations and religious ceremonies — houses of worship won’t have to restrict their observances to the internet. But where can people go to pray in their Chevrolet?
Executive Order 142 specifically permits “car gatherings for the purpose of drive-through and drive-in events.” The provision took place immediately when announced Wednesday afternoon. (Parts of the order about construction and non-essential retail will take effect at 6 a.m. this coming Monday.)
To comply with the order:
Attendees must remain in their same car throughout the gathering, unless 1) an occupant needs to get out of the vehicle for their health or safety or 2) an occupant needs to use the restroom;The vehicle must remain closed at all times unless 1) there is six feet of distance between other vehicles or individuals or 2) an officer, public official or guard requires the vehicle to open. There is a further exception allowing the opening of the vehicle if necessary for health or safety;Individuals organizing the gathering who are not in vehicles must follow social distancing and wear cloth face coverings; andTo the degree that a gathering requires pre-payment, or seeks donations of any kind, contactless options for pre-payment or donation, such as online or by telephone, must be offered wherever feasible.
On Wednesday, Maria Margiotta, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Newark, said they would be making an announcement “soon” regarding upcoming changes, but she didn’t have details yet.
The archdiocese posted an update on their website on Monday about what to expect when churches return to in-person worship, and discussed matters such as dispensation. “The specific details of when public Mass will resume and how it will be celebrated are still being determined, but the return will occur through a three-phase gradual process,” said the note.
A spokeswoman for St. Teresa at Avila Parish in Summit said Thursday that the church didn’t have plans for gatherings by car, but said that starting this week, the church will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. Sundays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parishioners can come to the main church for private prayer only. There will be a staff person on hand to make sure people are wearing a mask and social distancing.
Several officials at houses of worship in New Jersey said they were considering the new order, but that their buildings (and parking lots) are too small for them to make changes in the near future. They’ll continue their services and prayer groups virtually for now.
Laura Simone of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranford said Wednesday, “We don’t really have the parking space or equipment (e.g. FM transmitters) for drive-in church, but we have had very good success with our live-stream services on Sundays at 10 a.m.”
Simone noted that the church runs virtual programs for children, as well as Zoom bible study.
“During this long period of self-isolation, what people are longing for is to feel in community with one another,” she said. “While we long to be together for worship services, we’ve found a way for folks to feel connected and loved.”
Hoboken Grace Church has posted opportunities for people to stay connected via their website, such as morning yoga, virtual dinner parties, volunteering, and cooking lessons. They don’t yet have plans for in-person services and ceremonies.
Catholic schools were considering their plans. The Oak Knoll school in Summit said they have a weekly prayer service for their school community on Fridays at 8:30 a.m. but don’t forsee changes in the near future.
In Elizabeth, a priest at New Zion Baptist Church has been giving drive-through communion on the first Sunday of each month to a line of cars, but they have suspended the practice, keeping groups and prayers on-line and through Zoom.
Some worshippers may not be content to pray in the parking lot.
A rabbi and priest recently filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Murphy, saying his ban on in-person religious gatherings violates their constitution rights. Rabbi Yisrael Knopfler joined Rev. Kevin Robinson, a priest at St. Anthony of Padua Church in North Caldwell, in the federal suit.
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Residents of the state have started on-line petitions in recent weeks.
In response to one petition, a man wrote, “Religious services have not been stopped. People are using social media for their services. I attend 2-4 services a week myself.” But a woman replied, “Watching on TV is NOT attending services. My faith requires we gather together and that right is being unconstitutionality denied.”
New Jersey continues to see high rates of coronavirus cases and deaths. On Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy said 197 more people had died of coronavirus since the day before, bringing the state death toll to 9,702.
The rate has slowly come down from Thursday, April 30, when the state reached its highest 24-hour death rate of 460 deaths in one day, or one person every three minutes.
Officials are reopening facilities in the state cautiously so as not to cause another spike in cases.
The governor said Tuesday that in order to start reopening, the state is planning to trace people who’ve had contact with patients, and institute other measures. READ MORE.