Latest news with #ReligiousLandUseandInstitutionalizedPersonsAct
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why the Justice Department just sued a small Idaho town
The small town of Troy, Idaho, is facing a major legal problem. Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against it based on religious freedom concerns. The Justice Department alleges that town leaders are discriminating against a local evangelical church by unnecessarily preventing it from holding worship services in Troy's business district. Troy officials say they're enforcing zoning law, not engaging in discrimination. 'The fact that it was this church had zero to do with the denial,' said Todd Richardson, Troy city attorney, to the Yakima Herald-Republic. The religious freedom lawsuit filed by the Justice Department centers on Christ Church, an evangelical Christian house of worship that holds services in both Troy and Moscow, Idaho. In late 2022, a leader at Christ Church sought permission from Troy to hold worship services at a former bank building downtown. The congregation needed a conditional use permit because the building was zoned for business, not religious events. According to the Justice Department lawsuit, the city regularly allows noncommercial activity in its downtown business district, as well as noncommercial redevelopment. But many residents spoke against Christ Church's plan, including some who complained about the congregation's beliefs and practices, and Troy leaders denied the conditional use permit. 'In its denial of the application, the city said the 'great majority of the city residents' opposed approving the permit,' the Yakima Herald-Republic reported. The City Council reaffirmed the denial on appeal. In the new lawsuit, the Justice Department argues that Troy violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, or RLUIPA, when it denied the conditional use permit. The denial stemmed from animus toward the congregation, not legitimate governmental concerns, the lawsuit alleges. 'RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups,' said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division in a statement. The lawsuit also accuses Troy of treating faith-based requests for zoning law adjustments differently than secular ones. 'The City Code, on its face, and in the C-1 zoning district where the Subject Property is located, treats religious assembly uses on less than equal terms with nonreligious assemblies or institutions,' the suit says. In an interview with Fox News, Richardson, the Troy city attorney, rejected the Justice Department's claims and criticized it for using 'bullying tactics.' 'The case isn't about religion, he said, but about the city preserving the two-block downtown area as a commercial district and resisting the influx of as many as 15% of its population gathering at one location and putting a 'strain on the city's limited resources,'' Fox News reported. Although Christ Church is a small congregation in a rural area of Idaho, this month is not the first time it has made national news. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the church's members were arrested for violating Moscow's mask mandate while singing hymns and protesting the city's pandemic-related public health rules. President Donald Trump defended their protest in a social media post at the time, according to Idaho News 6.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Justice Department takes on small Idaho town in religious freedom battle over church permit
The Justice Department accused a small city in northern Idaho of religious discrimination after it denied a zoning permit to a local evangelical church seeking to hold worship services. The DOJ announced on May 20 it had filed a lawsuit alleging the city of Troy, Idaho, violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) after it denied a conditional use permit to Christ Church to hold services in its downtown C-1 zoning district, where nonreligious assembly uses such as clubs, museums, auditoriums, and art galleries were allowed. The RLUIPA is federal legislation passed in 2000 that's intended to "protect individuals, houses of worship, and other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning and landmarking laws," the DOJ states. According to the lawsuit, Christ Church, a small but quickly growing evangelical church based in Moscow, Idaho, sought to accommodate its growth in September 2022 by establishing another church campus in the neighboring town of Troy. Seattle Mayor Blames Christian Rally For Inspiring Violent 'Anarchists' Who 'Infiltrated' Counter-protest The conservative, evangelical church faced opposition from some in the Moscow community over the years because of its beliefs and influence in the liberal college town, with some residents boycotting businesses tied to the church, according to the Spokesman-Review. Read On The Fox News App The church made national headlines in September 2020 after a few of its members were arrested for not wearing masks at an outside worship service protesting the city's mask mandate during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior Pastor Douglas Wilson faced criticism for his provocative writings and allegations he wants to make America a "Christian theocracy," according to a recent article from Politico. Christ Church allegedly reached out to various locations in Troy to rent on weekends for services, without success. In November 2022, Matt Meyer, an elder at the church and Troy resident, purchased a vacant, former bank in the city's downtown business district with the intention of converting part of the property into a space to be used by the church for worship services and church meetings, while the other part of the property would be rented out as an event space for the community. Religious Freedom Battle Erupts As New Jersey Town Attempts To Turn Church Property Into Pickleball Courts Meyer applied for a conditional use permit and told the city he failed to find another suitable space to hold services in Troy. In his application, he said there would be little impact on the surrounding businesses and his purchase of the vacant building would bring in property tax revenue for the city. After holding a public hearing on the matter where locals expressed strong opposition to the permit request, the Troy City Council rejected the church's application in March of that year. According to the DOJ, the city council denied the permit on the basis that the church "did not enhance the commercial district." Furthermore, the city council argued the majority of locals were against granting the church a permit in this zone and the decision would burden residents and businesses by creating traffic and parking issues in the city, whose population is fewer than 1,000 people. In their lawsuit filed on Christ Church's behalf, the DOJ questioned how the city justified the denial on the basis of several of its arguments. Tech Company Reverses Policy After Christian Group Sues For Religious Discrimination The lawsuit questioned why the city told Meyer he could use the building for other community events, which had no retail purpose, and these would be considered to "enhance the commercial district" and be allowed under the city's zoning law. They claimed the city did not conduct a traffic study, or offer conditions that could be imposed on the church to ameliorate the traffic and parking concerns. Many of the public comments at the public hearing demonstrated "animus and discrimination against Christ Church, its members, and their religious beliefs," the lawsuit also claimed. The DOJ lawsuit accuses the city of Troy of violating RLUIPA by not treating Christ Church on "equal treatment" with nonreligious assemblies through its zoning code, by imposing a "substantial burden" on the church's religious exercise and by discriminating against Christ Church on the "basis of religion." City of Troy attorney Todd Richardson rejected the DOJ's discrimination allegations in an interview with Fox News Digital. He said they've allowed Christ Church to hold services in the building for the past two years, while the investigation has been ongoing, and they have cooperated fully with federal investigators. Trump Announces Executive Order Creating Task Force To 'Eradicate Anti-christian Bias' The city attorney accused the Justice Department of using "bullying tactics" to try to force their hand. The case isn't about religion, he said, but about the city preserving the two-block downtown area as a commercial district and resisting the influx of as many as 15% of its population gathering at one location and putting a "strain on the city's limited resources." "We have no complaints about Christ Church being in town. We have concerns about overwhelming that zone," he said. Matt Meyer, the elder at Christ Church who filed a complaint with the DOJ over the dispute, told Fox News Digital that the church would be happy to work with the city to accommodate any of its concerns, such as parking restrictions, but city leaders "have never asked us for any sort of conditions" to do so. He found the city's allegations about parking and impacting businesses unfounded, saying many of the buildings in this downtown area are vacant, and the town is "largely empty" on Sunday mornings. Meyer attended the public hearing where many residents spoke out against the church permit being granted. He referred to the hostile comments made by some in the community toward the church, as mentioned in the DOJ lawsuit, to argue they likely played a role in the city council's decision. "It seems logical that elected officials could be influenced by a vocal group of residents even if that group is a minority, but I can't read the mind of the city council," he said. In April 2025, Troy passed an interim zoning ordinance that changed many of the previously permitted uses in the business district to "not permitted," including auditoriums, community centers, civic and fraternal organizations, parks, playgrounds, schools, museums, libraries, and movie theaters, and prohibits churches as a conditional use, according to the lawsuit. In its press release, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said, "RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups. The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that discriminate in land use matters on the basis of the applicants' religious beliefs." Christ Church pastor Douglas Wilson told Fox News Digital that public backlash to his opinions shouldn't be a factor in how city leaders treat his church. "The content of things that I say should have nothing to do with whether a church is allowed to meet. You don't approve a religious assembly based upon your disagreement with certain views expressed." The Justice Department told Fox News Digital it did not have further comment on the article source: Justice Department takes on small Idaho town in religious freedom battle over church permit
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Religious freedom battle erupts as New Jersey town attempts to turn church property into pickleball courts
A New Jersey town has moved to seize a 10-acre church property and turn it into recreational space, outfitted with pickleball courts and soccer fields. Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, New Jersey, found itself at the center of a highly charged legal battle after its leaders moved to expand outreach to the area's homeless population and proposed a 17-bed overnight shelter. "It didn't take long for neighbors to become concerned," Harvey York, the church's attorney, told Fox News Digital. On April 30, the Toms River Township Council placed an ordinance on its agenda to condemn the church's 10-acre site, which includes the parish house, auditorium, school, sanctuary and deacon's residence, under its eminent domain power. Church Fights New Jersey Town Over Plans To Seize Property And Turn It Into Park The town's plan is to turn the congregation's property into a recreational area. Read On The Fox News App "Any governmental agency has the right to condemn property for governmental purposes. That's clear. However, the township has never thought of this as a recreational site," York said. "For them to say they need recreational land flies in the face of the facts and their master plan." York and his legal team argue that the move to seize the property is the township's direct response to the church's shelter initiative. "It is clear that this is being done in retaliation for the church making an application for a homeless shelter," he said, pointing to both the constitutional protections for freedom of religion and the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. "I don't know that you'll find a lawyer who will say, 'Oh, yeah, they have every right to do this; they're going to win.'" Despite rising community support, from local congregants to offers of amicus assistance nationwide, reactions remain mixed within the New Jersey town. "There are people that are thrilled that the mayor is going to condemn the property," York said, but he believes "the majority of the community is shocked and dismayed." Business Owners Take On City They Say Is Playing 'Musical Chairs' With Property In Eminent Domain Case As for the church's next steps, litigation is certain. "The plan will be decided by the diocese," York said. "But they certainly will litigate the issue, and I believe it will be successful." The church's attorney said the government should "mind their own business and stay out of the religious affairs of the community." Five or six hearings have taken place, and the next zoning board meeting is scheduled for May 22. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Township of Toms River for comment on the pending litigation and the hearings. The church originally applied in July 2023 to operate an outreach center for the homeless, an effort that was approved. According to York, their application for the shelter fully complies with local and state article source: Religious freedom battle erupts as New Jersey town attempts to turn church property into pickleball courts
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ files religious liberty lawsuit against Troy, Idaho, for alleged discrimination against Christ Church
May 21—A small Latah County town violated a federal religious liberty law when it denied a conditional use permit application from Moscow-based Christ Church, according to a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. The Justice Department alleged the city of Troy, which is about 12 miles east of Moscow, violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) when it denied the permit, the department said in a news release. Christ Church outgrew the space where it was worshipping and was unable to find one to rent, according to the release. It then sought a permit to operate a church in the city's zoning district where nonreligious assembly uses such as clubs, museums, auditoriums and art galleries were allowed. Troy residents opposed the church's application and the church's beliefs, the release said. In its denial of the application, the city said the "great majority of the city residents" opposed approving the permit. "RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said in the release. "The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that discriminate in land use matters on the basis of the applicants' religious beliefs." The lawsuit alleged denying the permit imposed a "substantial burden on Christ Church and was based on the community's discriminatory animus against the Church," according to the release. It also alleged the city's zoning code treats religious assembly use worse than nonreligious assembly use. Todd Richardson, Troy city attorney, called the complaint "misleading and incorrect." The permit would have violated city zoning, he said. "The fact that it was this church had zero to do with the denial," Richardson said. Christ Church has divided the Moscow community over the years, with some residents boycotting businesses tied to the church. The conservative church made headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic when church members protested the city's COVID-19 mask mandate. The church's website states its mission is to "make Moscow a Christian town," and that church leaders support a theocracy in the U.S. Reporter Alexandra Duggan contributed to this article.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. Department of Justice sues N. Idaho town over zoning denial for Christ Church
Pastor Doug Wilson, leader of Moscow's Christ Church, seen at a religious conference in October 2023. Federal officials are suing Troy, a north central Idaho town, after it denied a permit for Wilson's church to worship. (James Dawson/ Boise State Public Radio) This story was first published by Boise State Public Radio on May 20, 2025. The federal government is suing a small Idaho town for denying a conditional use permit to let a far-right, evangelical church hold services in its downtown. City Council members in Troy, Idaho, which is about 12 miles east of Moscow in Latah County, denied the permit to Christ Church elder Matt Meyer in March 2023 and a subsequent appeal. The Department of Justice said in a press release Tuesday that denial was based on animus against the church and its teachings, which violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. CONTACT US Boise State Public Radio explored Christ Church and its ideology in-depth in Extremely American: Onward Christian Soldiers. The church stresses strict gender roles and advocates for limiting civil rights for women and those who don't follow its interpretation of Christianity. 'RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups,' said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Meyer had purchased a former bank building along the city's main street, which had been vacant for about a year. Meyer planned to split the property between office space and event space, including exclusive Sunday use for religious services by Christ Church. At the time, Troy's land use ordinance required conditional approval from the city for any new church, regardless of the zone in which it would be located. Nearly all public comments submitted opposed issuing the permit – several of which included pushback against the church's conservative ideology. 'The City of Troy welcomes any church to our community,' the denial states. However, it must be denied because the church's use of the property '… is against the will of the people and will have a negative effect on the City's ability to grow its business community.' Just last month, Troy City Council members adopted a new land use ordinance banning 39 different uses within the central business district, including churches and religious facilities. The suit asks a federal judge to force the city to grant the church permission to worship at the location, along with mandating training for city personnel on federal religious discrimination laws. A request for comment from the city's attorney wasn't immediately returned Tuesday afternoon. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
