Lawyer for Lena church fires back at J.B. Pritzker over comment about jailing stay-at-home violators

LENA, Ill. – A Chicago lawyer who filed a civil lawsuit against Gov. J.B. Pritzker on behalf of a Lena pastor fired back at the governor Monday, claiming Pritzker threatened churchgoers with jail for defying Illinois’ stay-at-home order.

“Pritzker’s latest threat of jail for people of faith is outrageous, and we will seek immediate relief from the court of appeals to defend our clients,” said Peter Breen, an attorney with the Thomas More Society.

Breen, on behalf of Pastor Stephen Cassell and The Beloved Church, filed the lawsuit last week in federal court, seeking an exemption from the the stay-at-home order. The complaint claimed the statewide directive, first ordered by Pritzker March 20, is unconstitutional.

Judge John Z. Lee ruled against the church Saturday. The judge’s 37-page decision stated that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor’s execute order limiting church services to 10 people is constitutionally sound.

Read more: http://rockrivertimes.com/2020/05/05/lawyer-for-lena-church-fires-back-at-j-b-pritzker-over-comment-about-jailing-stay-at-home-violators/