CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The city fined three churches for violating Governor Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, but a well-known millionaire said he’s going to pay the fines.
The three North Side churches were hit with $500 fines each for holding Sunday services with more than 10 people in attendance.
Now, businessman and perennial politician candidate Willie Wilson said he will pay the fines for Metro Praise International Church, Philadelphia Romanian Church of God, and Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot had threatened to take action if churches defied the Governor's restrictions, and she did. But Willie Wilson said in a statement Wednesday that limiting the number of worshipers infringes on the churches’ free exercise of religion.
“The Governor and Mayor continue to trample on our constitutional rights while hiding behind a Stay at Home Order that treats the church as non-essential,” the statement said. “It is shameful that the church is discriminated against, while liquor stores, marijuana dispensaries, and Home Depot [are> treated as essential businesses.”
Last Sunday, Wilson attended the services at Philadelphia Romanian Church where he said “I tell everybody this year, wherever I go, practice your social distancing, do what the signs say, do what the laws say, but don’t ever put the law before God."
Chicago Police said they have also set up temporarily bans on parking near churches “as a precaution to prevent planned large gatherings from taking place.”
“The Chicago Police Department has been working to ensure full compliance with the (stay-at-home) order,” the department said. “As part of this effort, we continue to ask everyone to help slow the spread of the virus by staying home and practicing social distancing so that once we have begun to recover and reopen, residents can return to their religious services in a safe manner.”