Public Shelter's "Blessing of the Animals" Challenged In Court

An Atheist group last week filed suit in a New Jersey federal district court challenging a county-run animal shelter's hosting for the second year in a row of a Blessing of the Animals event.  The complaint (full text) in American Atheists, Inc. v. Bergen County, (D NJ, filed 11/13/2017), objects to the use of public resources and employee time to promote and host a ritual that is performed by Franciscan clergy annually in honor of St. Francis of Assissi. Plaintiffs claim that the county has violated the Establishment Clause, the Equal Protection Clause and several provisions of the New Jersey Constitution.  American Atheists issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.