Suit Challenges Exclusion Of Religious Meetings From City Hall

The Alliance Defense Fund announced yesterday that it has filed suit in federal court against the city of Idaho Springs, Colorado to challenge its policy that prohibits the use of City Council chambers for religious events and meetings. The issue arose when Idaho Springs residents who were observing the National Day of Prayer were denied use council chambers as a back-up location when rain precluded use of a city park. The complaint (full text) in Barkey v. City of Idaho Springs says that City Hall Council Chambers- Meeting Room is open for use by non-profit and community service groups generally, but not for meetings with religious content or for religious ceremonies. the suit claims that this policy of viewpoint and religious discrimination violates First and Fourteenth Amendment protections.

One Suit Filed, Another Settled, On Equal Use of Public Space By Religious Groups

On Tuesday of this week, Care and Share Ministry filed suit in federal district court in New Jersey (full text of complaint) challenging the policy of South Orange, New Jersey that opens the use of its Village Square for events by public and private non-religious groups, but denies use for events sponsored by religious organizations. (Alliance Defense Fund release.) Care and Share is a Christian group that is seeking to present a family-friendly show of music, skits and puppets. The Associated Press reported on the lawsuit yesterday.

Meanwhile, a suit filed last year against Idaho Springs, Colorado, challenging its refusal to permit use of city council chambers for religious events and meetings-- while permitting use by secular non-profit and community groups-- has been settled. Alliance Defense Fund announced yesterday that the city is building a new room in city hall that can be used by the public as a meeting room-- and there will be no discrimination against use by religious groups. The group sponsoring National Day of Prayer observances that instituted the complaint last year has already reserved the new room for this year's observance.