Suit Challenges Exclusion Of Religious Meetings From City Hall

The Alliance Defense Fund announced yesterday that it has filed suit in federal court against the city of Idaho Springs, Colorado to challenge its policy that prohibits the use of City Council chambers for religious events and meetings. The issue arose when Idaho Springs residents who were observing the National Day of Prayer were denied use council chambers as a back-up location when rain precluded use of a city park. The complaint (full text) in Barkey v. City of Idaho Springs says that City Hall Council Chambers- Meeting Room is open for use by non-profit and community service groups generally, but not for meetings with religious content or for religious ceremonies. the suit claims that this policy of viewpoint and religious discrimination violates First and Fourteenth Amendment protections.