A federal decide has dominated {that a} southern Oregon metropolis can’t restrict an area church’s homeless meal providers.
U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Mark Clarke discovered that an ordinance handed by the small metropolis of Brookings, on the southern Oregon coast, violated the spiritual freedom rights of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, KGW reported. He issued his opinion on Wednesday.
The 2021 ordinance restricted the church’s homeless meal providers to 2 days per week, and required a allow to serve free meals in residential areas. It was handed in response to resident complaints.
The church sued the town in 2022, saying the ordinance violated its proper to freely apply faith.
KGW reported the church’s Rev. Bernie Lindley describing feeding folks as an expression of non secular perception.
“That’s the best way we categorical our religion: by caring for people who find themselves on the margins, particularly people who find themselves hungry,” Lindley mentioned.
Attorneys for the town didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The church has served free meals since 2009, in accordance with KGW. In the course of the pandemic, they elevated meal providers to 6 per week, which prompted the resident complaints.
In his ruling, Clarke mentioned the town didn’t present a enough purpose for proscribing the variety of days the church can serve free meals.
However the church’s authorized battles usually are not over but. KGW reported that the town is asking the church to cease bathe and advocacy providers, a transfer the church has appealed.
