CHICAGO (CBS) — As the governor faces a lawsuit from a northwest Illinois church claiming his original stay-at-home mandate “flagrantly violated the fundamental religious liberties of Illinoisans,” his extended executive order now allows “free exercise of religion” as an essential activity. Gov. JB Pritzker issued an extended stay-at-home order Thursday night that expands the list of “essential activities” for which people are allowed to leave their homes, to allow them “to engage in the free exercise of religion.” Religious gatherings would still have a limit of no more than 10 people, and they would have to wear face coverings or stay more than six feet away from each other. The religious gatherings exemption comes after the pastor of Beloved Church in Lena filed a federal lawsuit against the governor, arguing the original stay-at-home mandate “ flagrantly violated the fundamental religious liberties of Illinoisans .” Pastor Steve Cassell noted in his federal lawsuit that the governor’s original stay-at-home order did not deem churches and other houses of worship to be “essential” businesses allowed to remain open, while deeming liquor stores, lawyers, and landscapers as essential. “The churches and pastors of Illinois are no less ‘essential’ than its liquor stores to […]
