NEW YORK – The Roman Catholic Diocese is suing New York State over new restrictions with religious gatherings.
Last week, Governor Cuomo said the precautions that had been in place were not enough for mass gatherings.
Under the new enforcement effort, in New York communities in known COVID clusters, or ‘red zones,’ houses of worship can only operate at 25-percent capacity, with a maximum of 10 people inside.
In ‘orange zones’, houses of worship can function at 33-percent capacity with a maximum of 25 people inside.
In the lawsuit filed the Diocese of Brooklyn is seeking an injunction, preventing the enforcement of the attendance limits in red and orange zones.
Ahead of the filing, bishop Nicholas Dimarzio said it’s a matter of religious freedom.
“We believe now that our rights are being infringed upon, especially our first amendment right to worship in an unfair way,” explained Dimarzio.
Bishop Dimarzio says the Diocese will comply with all of the latest guidelines but he hopes to receive a response to the lawsuit in the coming weeks.
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