Catholic Diocese Opposes Taking of Church Land For Border Fencing

The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, Texas filed suit in federal district court on Nov. 6 seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the federal government from exercising its eminent domain power to take church land to construct border fencing and security.  According to the Brownsville Herald, last month the Department of Homeland Security waived more than two dozen laws to facilitate construction of border fencing through Hidalgo County and filed a Declaration of Taking that includes the La Lomita Chapel and Juan Diego Academy in Mission, Texas. The Diocese argues that the taking violates its free exercise rights and that the DHS waivers exceeded the authority granted by Congress.