From this moment, the churches will be able to carry out any worship or religious service in person during the weekend, informed the secretary of the Interior, Antonio Luis Pabón Batlle, indicating that religious denominations are exempt from certain restrictions given by the current Executive order, in force until May 25.
According to a press release, the determination was made after meetings with the Advisory Council for the Reopening of the Church and representatives of the religious sector who requested a waiver to offer face-to-face services during the term of this Executive Order, stating that its protocols were established.
“The Government of Puerto Rico, through the Ministry of the Interior, determined to make the scope of the Executive Orders issued by Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced flexible regarding the celebration of religious services,” said Pabón Batlle.
Until today, the churches were only practicing religious services virtually, a method that has been agreed to continue using. At a press conference, Governor Wanda Vázquez reported that, as part of the new Executive Order that comes into force on March 26, communities of faith will be able to carry out activities, as long as the duration of the services is limited and the physical distance from people, among other issues. With this waiver, churches won’t have to wait until next week.
It was indicated that each religious denomination has committed to comply with the Guide for the Staged Reopening of the Presence Religious Services.
“We recognize the importance of being able to gather and celebrate its different religious activities or services for its sector, by doing so we not only protect and promulgate the provisions of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and Article 2 of the Constitution of Puerto Rico in relation to the guarantee of the fundamental right to freedom of worship, but also the additional protections to faith communities provided by the federal “Religious Freedom Act” (RFRA), “concluded Pabón Batlle.
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