NW Illinois News

Facing legal action from a Christian church in Lena, Gov. Pritzker updated his stay-at-home order on April 30, allowing churches to reopen and hold services if they limit attendance to 10 or fewer.

Peter Breen, special counsel to the Thomas More Society (TMS) which filed the action in federal court on behalf of the Beloved Church in Lena, said the church stood up to the governor and he conceded.

“We filed the suit in the morning and he changed the order later that day,” Breen told NW Illinois News. “This is a big victory for the people of Illinois.”

Peter Breen | Thomasmoresociety.org

In his executive order, Pritzker deemed churches and other places of worship “nonessential.” He recently extended the order to the end of May. With the update, churches are now deemed "essential."

The complaint, filed by TMS in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Rockford, noted that “Essential Businesses and Operations” under the governor’s order may have gatherings of larger than 10 people while “religious gatherings of any number are forbidden, on pain of criminal prosecution.”

“Keeping liquor stores open but indefinitely shutting down churches and religious ministries violates our constitution and our most basic liberties,” Breen said in a statement issued at the time of the court filing. “If liquor stores are ‘essential,’ so are churches.”

Steve Cassell, pastor of the Beloved Church, announced he planned church services for May 3. TMS said that he and the church were issued cease and desist orders, and have been threatened with arrest and prosecution by local officials in Stephenson County, who are also named in the suit.

Breen said that Pritzker’s updated order still does not allow for the needs of each community of faith but negotiations were ongoing with the Attorney General’s office.

“We’ve seen other state governments work cooperatively and collaboratively with churches,” Breen said. “In Illinois one man simply ordered all churches to shut down.”