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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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HomeCoronavirusReligious Sites not complying with Banned Gatherings to be fined and Possibly Closed

Religious Sites not complying with Banned Gatherings to be fined and Possibly Closed

Religious Sites not complying with Banned Gatherings to be fined and Possibly Closed

In these days of Social Distancing and Banned Gatherings, the City of New York’s on the prowl to make sure folks are complying with the mandates set forth not too long ago. Social distancing is to be the norm for as long as Coronavirus is a threat to life in our city. It’s been repeated again and again by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo. New Yorkers are not to congregate on our streets, within our parks and playgrounds or anywhere else.

Today, through his near-daily press conference on the city’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mayor made it clear how, beginning this weekend, places of worship going against that which is expected would be fined and possibly closed down permanently.

The Mayor clarified how the vast majority of such religious sites were abiding by the rules yet a small number are not. It wasn’t made clear as to the amounts of such fines which would be issued.

Relatedly speaking, recent stories have covered such a problem going on in our city. One such article by the NY Post is titled: ‘Hasidic community ignores social distancing orders amid coronavirus‘. Another article by the New York Times, is titled ‘Defying Virus Rules, Large Hasidic Jewish Weddings Held in Brooklyn‘.

The Mayor:

“Another area, and it pains me to say this and it’s probably a pretty limited phenomenon, but it has to be addressed. I’ve spoken to religious leaders of all backgrounds and I want to thank them. So many of our religious leaders have really taken a lead and said to their congregation, said to members of our faith communities that we have to act differently now. A vast majority of houses of worship have stopped their traditional worship service. If they could, they went online, they went on the radio, whatever they could do, but they’ve stopped gathering people, understanding the nature of the crisis. We’ve had extraordinary support from the leaders of major Christian denominations. We’ve had extraordinary across the board, rabbinical support from all the different elements of the Jewish community, and the same is true other faiths as well. A small number – a small number of religious communities, specific churches, specific synagogues are unfortunately not paying attention to this guidance even though it’s been so widespread. So, I want to say to all those who are preparing the potential of religious services this weekend – if you go to your synagogue, if you go to your church and attempt to hold services after having been told so often not to, our enforcement agents will have no choice but to shut down those services. I don’t say that with any joy. It’s the last thing I would like to do because I understand how important people’s faiths are to them, and we need our faiths in this time of crisis, but we do not need gatherings that will endanger people. No – no faith tradition endorses anything that endangers the members of that faith. So, the NYPD, Fire Department, Buildings Department, and everyone has been instructed that if they see worship services going on, they will go to the officials of that congregation, they’ll 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. Again, that will begin this weekend. Again, I’m sorry I have to tell you this, but anyone who’s hearing this take it seriously. You’ve been warned, you need to stop services, help people practice their faith in different ways, but not in groups, not in gatherings that could endanger people.”

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