Settlement Reached In Church's Suit Over Homeless Shelter Restrictions

Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports that on Wednesday the St. Paul, Minnesota City Council approved a settlement in a lawsuit filed against it by First Lutheran Church over hosting Listening House, a day shelter for the homeless, in the Church's basement.  Last July, a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction as to two of the conditions imposed on the use. (See prior posting.) A settlement was reached with Listening House in December. Under this week's settlement with the Church, the city agrees to alert religious institutions on its zoning forms of their RLUIPA rights, and to conduct a study of better procedures for land use applications by religious institutions. [Thanks to Evan Berquist for the lead.]