Northwestern Illinois church sues Pritzker in federal court over his stay-at-home order

A church in northwestern Illinois added to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s legal woes Thursday, filing a federal lawsuit seeking an immediate injunction that would allow it to conduct worship services.

The church plans to hold such a service Sunday, it says.

The lawsuit was filed by the Thomas More Society on behalf of The Beloved Church of Lena and its pastor, Stephen Cassell. It alleges that the Stephenson County health department delivered a cease-and-desist notice to Cassell on March 31.

Lena is about 50 miles west of Rockford.

The complaint says the church intends to “reopen and hold public worship services this Sunday.” It goes on to say church leaders “fear arrest and prosecution if they do so, without immediate relief from this court.” Because about 80 people attend Sunday services at the church, according to the lawsuit, the service could be held in violation of Pritzker’s stay-at-home order.

“Plaintiffs believe that, in these dark times, Illinoisans need the Spirit of Almighty God, but Pritzker’s orders have left them to settle for the lesser spirits dispensed out of the state’s liquor stores,” the complaint states.