Injunction Denied In Land Use Dispute Over Church Social Service Facilities

In Calvert County, Maryland last week, a state Circuit court judge denied the county's request for a preliminary injunction to close down a church's counseling center and food pantry that have not obtained proper permits and site plans. Today's Washington Post reports on the decision. A suit is pending in federal court claiming that RLUIPA protects the church from having to close off its driveway as the county demands. (See prior posting.) Closing the driveway will force social service clients to go through the church to obtain assistance.