In reversal, White House tells CDC to post church guidance

 After refusing for weeks to release reopening guidance for churches, Trump ministration on Thursday abruptly changed course — with president saying he h instructed health officials to put vice out.

While visiting Michigan, President Donald Trump said he h discussed issue with leership at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I said ‘You better put it out.’ And y’re doing it,” Trump said at a Ford Motor Co. plant repurposed to make ventilators in Ypsilanti Township. “And y’re going to be issuing something today or tomorrow on churches. We got to get our churches open.”

church guidance is coming out “hopefully soon,” CDC spokeswoman Kristen rdlund said Thursday afteron. A senior ministration official said it was expected to be released Friday.

More than a month ago, CDC sent Trump ministration documents ncy h drafted with specific steps different s of organizations could follow as y grually reopened. vice was for seven s of organizations, including schools, restaurants and religious facilities.

Those drafts included detailed information for churches wanting to restart in-person services, with suggestions including maintaining distance between parishioners and limiting size of garings.

Trump ministration initially shelved all documents, but y were

Guidance for six or s of organizations was released

Last week, a Trump ministration official speaking on condition of anymity said re were concerns about propriety of government making specific dictates to places of worship. And Roger Severi, director of Office for Civil Rights at Department of Health and Human Services, argued that “protections against religious discrimination aren’t suspended during an emergency."

But on Thursday, Trump painted a different picture, suggesting he h prodded CDC to put out guidance to help churches reopen.

“We’ve got to open our churches. People want to go in,” he said.

Two senior ministration officials, speaking on condition of anymity to discuss private deliberations, said ministration officials did have concerns on religious freedom but those were resolved. y did t elaborate about how y were resolved, but y ted health visories are t requirements.

After AP reported on draft guidance for faith organizations, Russell Moore, president of Sourn Baptist Convention’s public policy arm, praised CDC’s vice as “informative without being heavy-handed.” But as guidance was withheld, churches in several states proceeded with plans for reopening while many ors remain closed.

Maggie Siddiqi, director of faith initiative at liberal Center for American Progress, said delay reflected political concerns within ministration that make for a “confusing and problematic” posture. Siddiqi's group is recommending that houses of worship reopen.