Suit Challenges Village's Policy That Excludes Religious Programs In Community Rooms

Liberty Counsel, a Christian educational and advocacy group, announced yesterday that it has filed suit in an Illinois federal district court challenging Plainfield, Illinois' policy regarding use of its Community Rooms by outside groups.  The Policy (full text), while permitting a wide variety of meetings, programs and activities, excludes use of the rooms for a dozen specific types of activities including use for "Religious services or other religious purposes."  The complaint (full text) in Liberty Counsel, Inc. v. Village of Plainfield, Illinois, (ND IL, filed 11/28/2012), says that Liberty Counsel wishes to use a community room to present an educational program promoting a Christian view of the founding of America, but is precluded from doing so under the village's policy.  The group claims that this violates provisions of the 1st and 14th Amendments, as well as the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act.