ACLJ sues country for anti-faith censorship of churches.
ACLJ sues country for anti-faith censorship of churches.
I thought I heard all the possible ways a county could attempt to silence conservative faith. This is a new and creative method.
Unfortunately for the county it is also illegal.
Quote:
July 6, 2006
McLean Bible Church Challenges Restrictions on Bible Classes
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) filed a federal lawsuit Monday against Fairfax County, Va., on behalf of the McLean Bible Church. The county determined that Bible study and religious-ministry classes at the non-denominational church were not included as part of the use permit issued in 1999. The county also decided if the church wanted to conduct classes, it had to qualify as a college or university.
Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ, said an integral part of any church's ministry is study of the Bible and other religious classes.
“When Fairfax County approved the church’s use permit," he said, "there was no issue that religious education, which had already taken place at the church since the 1980s, was a central aspect of its mission.”
The suit charges that the county's actions violated the church’s constitutional rights to religious free exercise, freedom of speech and association, and equal protection, and its statutory rights under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
“When the government acts to ban religious activity through zoning or land use regulations, the RLUIPA law requires it to show it has a compelling, overriding interest supporting its action," Sekulow explained. "Fairfax County has made no such showing, and its holding that the church must now be qualified as a college or university in order to hold Bible study and seminary level classes, which requires a different use permit, also violates the anti-discrimination portions of the law."
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http://www.family.org/cforum/briefs/a0041150.cfm
Just for fun imagine that the church were holding classes for liberal causes instead of Bible studies.
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FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION to victims of anti-faith bias including employees, students, teachers, churches, and cities: Alliance Defense Fund, Christian Law Association, American Center for Law and Justice, The Thomas More, The Becket Fund, The Rutherford Institute, Pacific Justice, Christian Legal Society, Liberty Counsel, Home School Legal and Defense Association.
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