Update on Mass Capacity for DC Churches

Update on Mass Capacity for DC Churches from the Archdiocese of Washington:

We’re pleased to share with you that last evening we received a ruling in our favor in our case challenging the District of Columbia’s restrictions on religious services. The federal district court ruled that the District’s capacity limits of 25% or up to 250 persons, whichever is lesser, are unconstitutional under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. As a result of this ruling, our churches in the District are no longer bound by either the 25% or the 250-person capacity limit. This ruling is effective immediately. 

The Archdiocese’s published guidelines for the Mass, linked here in English and here in Spanish, last updated in October, remain in effect, along with the other requirements set forth in Section XI, Paragraphs 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Mayor’s most recent executive order linked here. The District’s requirements include no crowding inside or outside of churches, cooperation in the District’s contract tracing efforts, masking, social distancing, wellness checks for Mass leaders, and other health and safety protocols that are consistent with the Archdiocese’s own guidelines.

The Chrism Mass, which will be celebrated on Monday, March 29 at 2 pm at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew, may be viewed at the following YouTube link: Chrism Mass

The archdiocesan website is updated regularly. Please see adw.org/coronavirus for information related to the coronavirus, adw.org/live-streamed-masses-and-prayers/ for a listing of live stream Masses and prayers, and cathstan.org and elpreg.org for the Catholic Standard and the Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers.