MURPHYSBORO – Less than 24 hours after Governor JB Pritzker announced a new 5-phase plan to ‘reopen’ the State of Illinois, State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) sent a letter to Pritzker stating her stand against his ‘phase-in’ plan for religious gatherings.
Bryant says Pritzker’s orders, plans, or declarations cannot supersede her right as an American citizen to freely worship and exercise her religion. Pritzker’s plan does not allow for gatherings of more than 50 people until “Phase 5”.
Bryant says if her Carbondale-based church calls for a regular in-person worship service prior to the state reaching Phase 5, she will be one of the first parishioners through the doors.
“Quite simply, when it comes to Governor Pritzker’s plan for how I am ‘allowed’ to worship, I will not comply,” Bryant said. “As a law-abiding, free American citizen, I know that my right to worship God in a corporate, communal way with fellow believers cannot be snuffed out. As 115th district State Representative, I took an oath to uphold both the Illinois and US Constitutions. I do not believe I can be faithful to my oath of office if I follow Governor Pritzker’s orders. If my church leaders call us to worship, I will be one of the first people through the door. I believe in the creativity, ingenuity, and spirit of the people of America. I know we can reopen our religious institutions in a safe, practical, reasonable way. I will not comply with orders that stamp out the right of my fellow free American citizens to gather and worship God how we see fit.”
