SMITHFIELD, N.C. -- A sheriff in North Carolina says his department won't enforce state guidelines limiting church attendance during the coronavirus pandemic.

Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said in a letter Wednesday that the state's 10-person limit on church services was unfair and morally wrong while retailers are continuing to operate with social-distancing guidelines. Bizzell has been part of the executive committee of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association that asked Gov. Roy Cooper to allow indoor church services last week.

Bizzell is asking worshippers though to observe social distancing, use hand sanitizers, and be cautious.

Additionally, a group of Christian pastors and educators, called" Return America", filed a federal lawsuit against Cooper with the goal of starting inside worship services again. They held a rally near the State Legislature on Thursday.

Cooper said Tuesday that it is more likely people will transmit the virus when they are sitting or standing in one place for a long time. Cooper, who is a church elder and former Sunday school teacher, spoke about his love of his faith and how he misses attending inside worship services. But he also said he does not want churches to become hot spots for the spread of the virus.

If the reopening continues without problems and the state goes into the second phase of the reopening, inside worship services would be permitted under Phase 2. The earliest that could happen would be May 22.