The ruling came soon after the church asked the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an emergency order stopping Gov. Andy Beshear's mass gathering ban from being enforced against religious services.

”Are we in the sacred enterprise of accompaniment and engagement and dialogue?” the cardinal said. “When you do it, you risk criticism on both sides.”

On the state level, governors are also presenting their plans to gradually reopen. Mike DeWine, governor of Ohio, for example, presented his plans April 27 to begin reopening.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Trump chose to politicize the call, which is his wont, but the bishops made a good tactical choice.

The cardinal’s appearance on Fox News follows a weekend during which he praised the president on a conference call with Catholic leaders hosted by the White House.

Interviews with physicians, public health experts, priests and diocesan leaders all elicited at least one common refrain: Even when public Masses resume, parish life will not feel normal for a while.