After immigrating from Communist Romania, Pastor Christian Ionescu never dreamed he would suffer similar persecution for his faith in his adopted home of Chicago, IL. Read on to learn the facts behind our pending U.S. Supreme Court case. -Mat

Liberty Counsel’s client, Pastor Cristian Ionescu, has a warning for ALL Americans:

Marxists, wherever they gain influence, always go after the church first in order to eliminate opposition for the abject tyranny that always accompanies their rule.

Pastor Cristian says growing up in Communist Romania was like living inside a tightening noose. The restrictions on freedom became worse over time. And this courageous pastor, who has personally experienced communist persecution, sees the same noose tightening here in America.

In Romania, the communists used widespread propaganda and violent campaigns to put the whole society in fear - fear designed to encourage compliance.

Those who refused to comply were deemed a nuisance and targeted for “pressure.”

If the pressure did not work, the communists would try to recruit dissidents to their side, offering special meetings with high ranking government officials saying, “just work with us and it will all be fine.”

And if the “nuisance” still refused to cooperate, their livelihoods were ruined and their property taken by the state.

And if all that didn’t work, the communists would simply eliminate resisters. Permanently.

Contrast the actions of the Communist Romanian regime that Pastor Ionescu suffered under to the treatment he and his parishioners have received at the hands of IL Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot through their bullying tactics.

First, the governor and the mayor tried scaring Pastor Ionescu and his church into compliance.

When the COVID crisis began, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church willingly closed, out of an abundance of caution for its parishioners, as well as in respect for the “two weeks to flatten the curve” announcement by Illinois officials.

But when Gov. J.B. Pritzker began allowing big box retailers, abortion clinics and recreational marijuana stores to open while churches were still restricted to just 10 people no matter their sanctuary size, the largely Romanian immigrant population of Elim Pentecostal grew uneasy.

When Pritzker later announced that churches could be allowed to increase attendance to 50 people only after a mandatory vaccine was released in 12-18 months, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church said NO MORE!

The church was sanitized top to bottom by a professional cleaning company. Masks, face shields, gloves and sanitizer were bought in bulk. Sanctuary seats were taped off so that no one could sit closer than six feet apart. In fact, the church went well above and beyond the safety measures used by the “essential services” Pritzker allowed to be open.

But instead of commending Elim’s safe and sanitary model, Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot decided to attack the church.

They then tried to incite hatred against the church.

In the early hours of the morning before Elim Pentecostal Church was to re-open, Mayor Lightfoot towed the neighbors’ cars legally parked on streets for nine blocks around the church. Neighborhood car owners received an impoundment letter informing the owner their vehicle had been towed because the church met with more than 10 people. But instead of generating hate against the church, neighbors stopped by with encouragement and even donations to keep the church going.

Then the bullies blocked access to the church’s parking lot.

By the evening service, Mayor Lightfoot sent five marked police cars to block every entrance to Elim’s private parking lot to scare attendees away. No matter, the parishioners simply parked farther away and walked.

Next, they threatened to take Pastor Ionescu’s freedom.

When it became clear the people of Elim would not be frightened into submission, Mayor Lightfoot then charged Pastor Ionescu with two Disorderly Conduct charges, as if this humble pastor were some thug in a bar brawl. But Pastor Cristian’s only “crime” was opening his church with more than 10 people attending. Again, the church refused to close.

Then they tried to get the pastor “on their side.”

After threatening Pastor Ionescu’s freedom, Mayor Lightfoot offered a “meeting” with the pastor. Pastor Ionescu told the mayor’s office he would attend ONLY if his Liberty Counsel attorney was present. The mayor promptly cancelled the meeting. The mayor was not really interested in dialogue -- she thought she could bend the pastor to her will.

And then they threatened to SEIZE AND DESTROY ALL CHURCH PROPERTY.

Foiled again, Mayor Lightfoot doubled down. The church received an official notice from the Chicago Health Department declaring Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church to be a “nuisance,” and as such the city threatened “Summary Abatement” – a process whereby the city could immediately and without notice seize and destroy all church buildings and property.

In all my years as an attorney, I have never heard of an American city trying to destroy a church, for ANY reason, let alone for simply meeting.

Pastor Cristian Ionescu, along with most of the immigrant members of Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church, had already LIVED through this kind of persecution under a communist regime. They, better than anyone, knew exactly where this trail of tyranny leads.

The persecution of American churches MUST STOP NOW.

Our case representing Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church against Gov. Pritzker will soon be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court. And while Gov. Pritzker hastily dropped his grotesque church restrictions in response to our lawsuit, the governor has steadfastly refused to promise the court he would never re-implement his illegal orders. Instead, he continues to insist that he can, and may, shut down Illinois churches again at his discretion.

This case will be the first church closure case to be presented to the U.S. Supreme Court for full review. And we still have our cases for churches in Maine, Virginia, Kentucky, Colorado and California continuing. This will be a long fight, but we are absolutely committed to ensuring that America’s religious freedom remains FREE.

Will you continue standing with us in that fight? Our legal services are always free thanks to the generosity of supporters like YOU. And for a limited time, a special challenge grant will DOUBLE the impact of your donation.

The costs associated with our escalating battle to defend pastors and churches are rising quickly – would you send a special gift of support TODAY? Please, take this opportunity to DOUBLE your impact on the fight for religious freedom! Select here.

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman

P.S. As I mentioned above, a generous supporter has established a CHALLENGE GRANT which will effectively DOUBLE the impact of your donation today. America's pastors and churches are relying on YOU, a faithful Liberty Counsel supporter, to help ensure religious freedom remains FREE! Select here or the graphic below.