Florida RFRA Challenge To Restriction On Feeding Homeless Dismissed

Today's Orlando (FL) Sentinel reports that a Florida federal district court has dismissed the challenge under Florida's Religious Freedom Restoration Act to to an Orlando ordinance that bans religious and charitable groups from serving meals to the hungry at the city’s Lake Eola Park and other areas downtown without first obtaining a special permit. Permits are available to any group or person only twice a year. (See prior posting.) The court said: "There are many ways to be charitable to the poor and homeless other than setting up large group feedings more than twice per year at Lake Eola Park." However this decision does not affect the First Vagabonds Church of God's First Amendment free expression challenge to the ordinance.