Churches In New York City Can Stay For Now After Judge’s Decision
-
A judge handed churches in New York city a temporary victory against the Department of Education. Churches will still be able to meet in public schools for the time being. From the Christian Post:
The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) announced today that it has won a court order allowing churches in New York City to continue meeting for weekend services at public schools, citing a temporary victory against the Department of Education.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted a temporary restraining order for 10 days, which will stop church evictions form public schools for the time being. The court will now fully consider constitutional arguments about the city’s unique-in-the-nation prohibition on worship services in vacant public school buildings on weekends before making a final decision on the matter.
After the New York City Department of Education (DOE) released regulations banning “religious worship services” in school facilities, ADF attorneys petitioned on behalf of the Bronx Household of Faith, hoping to seek a preliminary and/or permanent injunction against the ban.
The legal defense group had asked the court on Tuesday to “invalidate and restrain” the DOE’s “unconstitutional and discriminatory” policy, arguing that it violated the free exercise of religion and Establishment Clause.
ADF lawyers have praised the court order, explaining that evicting churches from empty buildings helps no one in the community.
“The court’s order is a message of hope for fundamental freedoms in New York City because it means that, for the time being, the city must welcome churches as it does other groups. ADF will continue to fight this battle relentlessly until the city no longer unconstitutionally prohibits activity for purely religious reasons,” argued ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence…
Good.
Related posts:
About The Author
-
Advertise Here
-
-
-
-
Leave a Reply