STEPHENSON COUNTY, Ill. — An Evangelic Christian church in Northern Illinois has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and leaders in Stephenson County, saying their religious rights have been violated.

The Beloved Church of Lena and Pastor Stephen Cassell filed a federal complaint with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Rockford.

The lawsuit names Gov. Pritzker, the Stephenson County Sheriff, the Stephenson County Public Health Administrator and the Village of Lena’s police chief, as having issued and enforced what it calls unconstitutional edicts during the coronavirus pandemic.

The lawsuit says the defendants have “intentionally denigrated Illinois
churches and pastors and people of faith by relegating them to second-class citizenship.”

Cassell and his church have been issued “cease and desist” orders, and been threatened with closure and prosecution for continuing to meet for worship, prayer, and Bible study.

The church is also planning on filing a temporary restraining order against the stay-at-home order.

Two Illinois lawmakers have filed separate lawsuits against Pritzker in the last week, one in Southern Illinois resulted in a ruling against the governor.