DOVER, Del. — Democratic Gov. John Carney plans to back off restrictions he imposed on church worship to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, state attorneys told a federal judge Tuesday. Carney planned to issue new guidance regarding communities of worship either later Tuesday or Wednesday that could narrow, or even resolve, issues raised in a lawsuit challenging his restrictions as unconstitutional, attorneys said. The lawsuit argues that houses of worship are being treated differently than other “essential” businesses in Delaware, and that they have been subjected to restrictions on religious practices — including how a baptism can be conducted — that are not neutrally and generally applicable to secular entities. “The facts and circumstances are going to change significantly,” state solicitor Aaron Goldstein told U.S. District Judge Colm Connolly. Goldstein did not provide further details, saying state attorneys were not controlling the timing or the final form of Carney’s new guidance. “It has been very clear that the court believes that the present state of things, that is the present way that the state of Delaware has issued it guidance, is not neutrally applicable,” Goldstein acknowledged. Connolly ordered Tuesday’s hearing to discuss scheduling regarding a preliminary injunction against […]
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