The archdiocese also has ordered that its schools be closed, beginning Wednesday. The closings will be in effect until at least April 3.

Along with more than 500,000 Catholics, the archdiocese oversees 180 parishes and more than 125 schools.

The archdiocese’s decision to suspend public Masses blunts any legal problems that may have been caused by the recent action of five local governments.

St. Louis city and four surrounding counties have issued orders that ban gatherings of 50 or more people, and four of the five leaders maintained that such a ban applied to churches.

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said the city will operate on the basis that churches are obliged to follow the order, but conceded “maybe there will be a (legal) challenge.”

Various government orders in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak have restricted the number of people who can gather in one place, but there had been confusion as to whether those orders applied to religious services.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern agreed that the ban applied to church services, though Ehlmann conceded that the orders could result in a legal challenge.