Late last week, Bishop of the Sioux City Diocese, R. Walker Nickless, announced they would be allowing the reopening of some churches for limited private prayers beginning on June 15. The discretion of these openings is going to be left to the parish pastor. Also late last week, Carroll County Attorney, John Werden, released an open letter, saying he has had grave concerns regarding the constitutionality of some of the executive orders issued by Iowa Gov., Kim Reynolds, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Werden says as one sworn to uphold and defend the United States and Iowa Constitutions, he specifically questions orders that target religious gatherings. “Now that we have more information, it is clear to me that this public health emergency cannot stand in the way of reasonable accommodation of religious observance; all the while discount and food stores are deemed ‘necessary’ and commercial buildings abound with shoppers,” he writes. According to Werden, U.S. Attorney General, William Barr, is currently addressing religious restrictions in Mississippi and says even with temporary limitations enacted during times of emergency, the First Amendment and federal law prohibit discrimination. This includes discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers. As County Attorney, Werden says he is responsible for enforcing public health orders within the statutory framework. However, because of conflicting decisions in different states and the continuation of an unsettled legal landscape, without further clarification from higher courts, “his office will NOT be seeking criminal enforcement for any alleged violations involving in-person meetings for religious purposes.”