Oregon reopens churches

Oregon Reopens Churches

Posted by
1 min read
June 8, 2020

PORTLAND, OR –  Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams issued the following statement:

“We thank Governor Kate Brown for extending religious freedom protections to people of faith as part of Phase 2 of the Reopening Oregon Plan.  Places of worship in counties that qualify for Phase 2 will be able, based on an order issued by the governor Thursday, to hold gatherings with social distancing and hygiene measures for up to 250 people, depending on the size of the facility.  Phase 1 raised some concerns about discrimination against places of worship by limiting them to 25 congregants, regardless of social distancing and hygiene measures, while allowing restaurants and fitness classes to operate with no numerical cap so long as they engaged in social distancing and adhered to hygiene measures.  Governor Brown’s new guidelines will allow places of worship that choose to reopen with the flexibility they need to serve their congregations while undertaking social distancing and hygiene protocols.

“The right to the free exercise of religion is one of our most cherished rights, and the Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that this right, and other fundamental rights, are preserved during the COVID-19 pandemic.  As Attorney General Barr has stated, ‘even in times of emergency, when reasonable and temporary restrictions are placed on rights, the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers.’  The Department of Justice will continue to prioritize Attorney General Barr’s Memorandum regarding Balancing Public Safety with the Preservation of Civil Rights.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Brown, and other Governors”

Photo by Joshua Eckstein on Unsplash

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version