There is a growing threat to the body of Christ and to all believers -- will governments continue to act unconstitutionally by restricting worship and demanding that worship be conducted according to an approved state mandate?

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These past few months of COVID shutdowns have been a trying time. People have lost the familiar pattern of their lives, in many cases their livelihoods and now, as a result of rioting, in many states across the nation they are losing their neighborhoods or cities.

Yet, state and local officials are still trying to restrict the one thing that can help in times of desperation – our churches. And just as it seems progress has been made, new and deeply troubling questions lurk relating to the "ReOpen Church" movement. What other restrictions will tyrannical governments try to impose on Christians and people of faith?

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Some governors are making statements that restrictions on churches will not be lifted until and unless a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed and widely available, some 12 to 18 months away. Their apparent intention is that only vaccinated individuals will be allowed to attend so called large gatherings of people – including church.

All concerns about illness aside, the points Liberty Counsel continues to make and fight for in these cases are that:

(1) Churches have a First Amendment right to exist without government restrictions. Houses of worship are entitled to special treatment, not merely equal treatment.

(2) The American people have the First Amendment right to worship without government restrictions. Government cannot restrict the free exercise of religion and cannot establish a religion - including preventing someone from attending church against his or her will.

Liberty Counsel has made these claims now in several ongoing lawsuits, including in Maine, Virginia, Kentucky and Illinois, not to mention in nearly 40 states with thousands of pastors. By God's grace, we are succeeding in many areas!

The federal Court of Appeals has ruled in our favor twice in the Kentucky case of Maryville Baptist Church, granting emergency injunctions that prevent Gov. Beshear from placing restrictions on churches.

We have filed for similar emergency injunctions in the states of Maine, Virginia and Illinois. Maine and Virginia are pending. However, Illinois had some relatively surprising developments late last week, which I will share in a moment.

As you may have read, the Supreme Court did not grant emergency relief for a California church. While this is NOT our case, it is important to note that this ruling is very limited and only applies to the extraordinary form of relief pending appeal. The litigation will continue until a final ruling, at which time the Supreme Court will be able to consider one or more cases. Liberty Counsel intends that our clients will be at least one of those cases…and God willing, we intend to win!

With lawsuits pending in several states to ReOpen Church, Liberty Counsel needs your financial help more than ever before. Select here or the button below

Meanwhile, IL Gov. Pritzker, after we drug him to the steps of the Supreme Court, suddenly removed ALL restrictions on churches. But here is why our suit must go on...

Just as quickly as Gov. Pritzker first instituted and then removed the restrictions against churches, there is nothing to prevent him from restricting these churches again in the future…nothing other than a potential future Supreme Court ruling that blocks these unconstitutional acts.

Pritzker threatened arrest and fines for pastors and church goers. When that didn't stop our clients from holding church, the churches were threatened with Summary Abatement – which includes bulldozing the churches.

Prior to lifting church restrictions, Pritzker threatened that churches would not be able to fully meet, and freedom would not be returned, until a COVID vaccination was available and that "everyone" in Illinois has the vaccine. In other words – no church until everyone gets vaccinated.

Those threats by Pritzker are not easily forgotten. He has already proven that, like most bullies, he will continue to impose whatever edicts he chooses until and unless someone stops him. Pritzker has shown himself quite willing to overrule the Constitution by fiat. In doing so, he has caused incalculable damage to the Romanian churches Liberty Counsel represents and all the houses of worship in the state.

And while Gov. Pritzker's hasty removal of restrictions on churches is a great victory, there is nothing to prevent the Illinois Governor – or any other - from re-applying those restrictions, and more, at any time he pleases…including mandatory vaccination.

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That's why Liberty Counsel must continue to fight these critically important battles for our churches – to ensure that no government tells us how, when, or if we can worship – or what we must put in our bodies in order to worship.

Please, stand with Liberty Counsel today. In this time of crisis, as fires and riots rage across our country, we need our churches open like never before.

Please, pray for our churches and our country as these terrible times press on. Pray for peace and pray for everyone here at Liberty Counsel as we fight for your right to worship.  Select here or the button below to fight for our churches!

In Christ,

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman

P.S. LAST THING: Our ongoing defense of Sandra Merritt, the brave whistleblower who exposed Planned Parenthood's gruesome "Baby Parts for Sale" scheme, has been the most expensive case in Liberty Counsel litigation history.

Our other cases, like defending Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, or the sidewalk counselors who pray outside abortion clinics, are all ongoing even as we have taken on this new work of defending literally thousands of pastors under attack for exercising their First Amendment right to hold church.

One hundred percent of all donations go directly to our legal program, not fundraising. But our budget is stretched as never before. Please, give as generously as possible TODAY so that our children and grandchildren will experience religious freedom tomorrow. Select here.