CATONSVILLE, Md. — Praying over the food won't be enough any more for churches in Baltimore County, Md. According to the Catonsville Times, new county regulations require churches to educate themselves in food-handling and obtain a license like a restaurant. There is also a prohibition on potlucks for the public.

"That's a recipe for disaster," said William Clarke, who works with Baltimore County's Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management. "Everyone has a different way of doing things. There is no guarantee that people are going to be doing things in a safe manner."

And safety will cost more now for churches in the county. Churches were paying $25 for a one-day permit for food events. The new regulations require an annual permit ranging from $100 to $300, depending on the risks.

"If you make someone sick, you are going to be held responsible," said Yvonne DeLoatch from the county's office of environmental protection and resource management.

Clarke and DeLoatch said that churches and other nonprofits are now held to the same standards as restaurants, which are inspected periodically and must prepare food using commercial-quality equipment.

"Our goal is to raise awareness about the dangers of food-borne illnesses and safe food-handling procedures," Clarke said. Churches are required to take a food-handling class in order to obtain their license.

"You really don't have a choice," said Ron Ware, who attends Christ United Methodist Church in Baltimore Highlands. "You have to take the high option if you want to be able to do anything. To me, this is just another way for the county to make money."

Most of the regulations affect churches that serve food for shelters or have suppers or bake sales for the public.