SCOTUS declines to hear appeal from Chicago church

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from a Chicago church that says it continues to face the threat of COVID-19 related closure, the Christian Post reports. The state of Illinois argued the case filed by Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church is moot because pandemic-related restrictions ordered by Gov. J.B. Pritzker have been eased and churches can now gather again.

In May 2020, Gov. Pritzker issued an Executive order allowing a maximum of 10 people to attend worship services. However, while implementing protective measures such as social distancing, Elim Church Pastor Cristian Ionescu continued to hold services that breached this order.

In a letter to Pastor Ionescu about the situation, Public Health Department Commissioner Allison Arwady wrote: “I appeal to you as a leader in your community and remain hopeful that you will work with me for the health, safety, and welfare of all Chicagoans…Any future gatherings conducted contrary to the order will be considered a failure to abate and the city will take steps necessary to abate, including Summary Abatement. The church launched legal action, claiming the restrictions violated First Amendment religious freedoms.

By late May the restrictions were eased to become guidelines for churches to allow a maximum of 100 people or 25% capacity. In a statement, Mr. Pritzker said: “Having received many plans and ideas from responsible faith leaders, [Illinois Department of Public Health] has reviewed many detailed proposals and has provided guidance, not mandatory restrictions, for all faith leaders to use in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of their congregants.”

In a statement Liberty Counsel, which represents Elim, said: “Pritzker continues to insist he can reimpose restrictions against churches at will. And the Summary Abatement notice threatening to seize and destroy Elim Romanian Pentecostal’s beautiful buildings still stands, meaning the city may still seize and bulldoze the church at any time.”

Nevertheless, on Monday the Supreme Court rejected Elim’s petition for a writ of certiorari; Justice Amy Coney Barrett was not a participant in the case.

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