An historic church in Lanesville, Massachusetts last Monday filed a federal lawsuit against the city's zoning board which is refusing to allow the church to add a multi-use addition onto its original post-Civil War building. Friday’s Gloucester (MA) Daily Times provides details. At issue is whether the Orthodox Congregational Church of Lanesville will need to provide on-site parking as part of its proposed project. The city's zoning ordinance excludes "places of worship" from the parking requirement. However zoning officials say that the addition should be classified as a multi-purpose function hall that requires parking. The lawsuit alleges religious discrimination, violation of the church's free exercise and free expression rights and denial of equal protection of the laws.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
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2 comments:
The church is being ridiculous. If they keep up this fight the entire community will be divided. Then what. This is where we live. And then the church brings in the 6 abutters that apposed the building and is suing them. This is not what Jesus would have us do. Let's end this. Let's find a peaceful solution. Just remember the church leaders are not God, they are men and men make mistakes.
When arrogant zoning officials know so little about the First Amendment that they think they can define religious expression and restrict its exercise what can we call them but un-American? The actions of these zoning officials and the neighbors they are pandering to goes beyond mere crass NIMBYism to an unconstitutional restriction of this church's right to freely exercise their beliefs. It also violates RLUIPA, state law and city ordinance. The City of Gloucester is in serious error, as they will find out in federal court.
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