CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Governor JB Pritzker has tweaked his extended stay-at-home order to allow the “free exercise of religion," but with restrictions.
The Beloved Church of Lena sued Governor Pritzker on Thursday, alleging the stay-at-home order violates their rights to exercise their religion. On the same day, the Governor issued an extended stay-at-home executive order that now includes language about the “free exercise of religion."
The ammended order filed Thursday now states the "free exercise of religion" is an "essential activity"; however, it reads any religious gathering must be limited to 10 or fewer people, and that those people must maintain a safe, social distancing and wear masks.
The order says “to engage in the free exercise of religion, provided that such exercise must comply with Social Distancing Requirements and the limit on gatherings of more than 10 people in keeping with CDC guidelines for the protection of public health.
Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said the language was added to “clarify” that places of worship can meet if they follow social distancing and CDC guidelines.
Meanwhile, a group of Chicago-area Catholics said it plans to protest every Friday afternoon outside Holy Name Cathedral, calling for all Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago to be reopened by the Cardinal.
Last month, Cardinal Blase Cupich announced that Mass would be suspended in all churches, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group, the newly formed St. Charles Borromeo Society, said they asked the Archdiocese to ease restrictions so churches could reopen, but Cupich declined.
The group said they would pray at Holy Name at every Friday, until churches open.