Kane County Reporter

After receiving a letter from the Kane County state's attorney's office warning it would enforce Gov. J.B. Pritzker's executive orders, the Northwest Bible Baptist Church has decided not to reopen for services. 

The office threatened to enforce Pritzker's extended executive order to contain the spread of COVID-19 if the church did not remain closed for in-person services, according to the Daily Herald. 

When the church was forced to close its school in mid-March, it also threatened legal action against the county, according to the Daily Herald. 

"Their willingness to enforce Gov. Pritzker's illegal mandate against the local church is mind-blowing, and it is obvious that forces against the church have eclipsed the gravity of this pandemic," Pastor Keith Gomez said in a Facebook post. "While we are ready and willing to engage in this battle, we have been counseled and believe it will be most prudent to temporarily postpone our reopening to achieve a greater longterm victory... All along, we have said that we want to win this war to protect our religious liberty, to establish a precedent so that these illegal actions will never be taken against our church again."

The church's attorney, Jeremy Dys, said the letter from the attorney's office was disappointing as church leaders have been asking to reopen since the beginning of May, according to the Daily Herald. 

While it's acknowledged that churches are taking safety precautions and protocols, there is still the issue of social distancing. 

"If a conflict occurs, this office is prepared to carry out its statutory duties and move to enforce compliance with the executive order," the letter sent to the church said. 

But Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said he couldn't enforce anything unless he had an order signed by a judge, according to the Daily Herald. Hain also told the Daily Herald that his office wouldn't be enforcing social distancing rules in small groups or businesses, nor would it be breaking them up for violations. 

But Gomez still said the church would be taking legal action on Facebook. 

"We understand the spiritual needs of our community and the spiritual needs of our church people, and we wholeheartedly long for the day to meet all of those needs. That day is coming soon, regardless of the government's approval," Gomez said on Facebook.