CNA Staff, May 21, 2020 / 14:10 pm
Three churches in Chicago have been fined after defying an order banning services of more than 10 people on Sunday, May 17. A former mayoral candidate, who attended one of the services, has said that he will pay the fines.
Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church, Philadelphia Romanian Church of God and Metro Praise International Church were cited on Wednesday by the Chicago Police Department for exceeding the state of Illinois' stay-at-home order and city social distancing policies which currently ban religious gatherings of more than 10 people. The churches were each fined $500.
"The Chicago Police Department has been working to ensure full compliance with the [stay-at-home] order," said the police department in a statement.
"As part of this effort, we continue to ask everyone to help slow the spread of the virus by staying home and practicing social distancing so that once we have begun to recover and reopen, residents can return to their religious services in a safe manner."