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President Donald Trump has called on state governors to allow places of worship to open, despite the threat of spreading the coronavirus.
At a news conference at the White House on Friday, Trump identified the worship centres as essential places that provide essential services in the country.
“Today I am identifying houses of worship – churches, synagogues and mosques – as essential places that provide essential services,” he said. “The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, for this weekend.”
“If they don’t do it, I will override the governors. In America, we need more prayer, not less,” he added.
Although it is unclear what authority he has to do so, but according to BBC, the US president has considerable power, but it is not within his means to order governors to do this. However, he could potentially withhold federal aid to states that he feels are not adequately allowing places to resume religious services.
Aljazeera reports the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had prepared a draft of reopening guidelines for churches and other houses of worship weeks ago that included measures like maintaining distance between parishioners and limiting the size of gatherings.
But that guidance had been delayed for more than a month by the administration until Trump abruptly changed course on Thursday.
The US President’s request however sparked wide reactions from pundits. Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, said in a tweet. “State governors don’t work for Trump and he can’t ‘override’ them via presidential decree. Trump should read the Constitution or speak to someone who has before proclaiming that he has the power to do something.”
Trump previously said he wanted churches to be reopened by Easter Sunday, on April 12, but that was dismissed by his own health experts, who said it was too risky. In recent weeks churches in some states have started to reopen as restrictions have loosened.
