Parishioners attend Sunday morning Mass (with audio provided by cell phone) from outside the gates at the parking lot at the Parish of Saint Agnes Cathedral on May 31 in Rockville Centre, New York. New York State regulations require that attendees on the site remain in their cars during Mass as the parish remains mostly closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Parishioners attend Sunday morning Mass (with audio provided by cell phone) from outside the gates at the parking lot at the Parish of Saint Agnes Cathedral on May 31 in Rockville Centre, New York. New York State regulations require that attendees on the site remain in their cars during Mass as the parish remains mostly closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (photo: Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Abortion ‘Essential,’ Churches ‘Not Essential’ (May 30)

Even in a pandemic, the battle over abortion in the United States is fierce. Abortion businesses have pushed to be recognized as essential services, and Planned Parenthood has applied for federal relief funds — but the Trump administration is resisting. Register Reporter Lauretta Brown brings us the story. And as states all across America are re-opening, controversy continues to swirl around the question of why, in some places, churches are not considered essential. We talk with Montse Alvarado, executive director of Becket.