A federal judge has ruled that a southern Oregon city can't limit a local church's homeless meal services. KGW reports that U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Clarke found that an ordinance passed by the city of Brookings violated the religious freedom rights of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church.
BROOKINGS, Ore. — A federal judge has ruled that a southern Oregon city can’t limit a local church’s homeless meal services.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Clarke found that an ordinance passed by the small city of Brookings, on the southern Oregon coast, violated the religious freedom rights of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, The 2021 ordinance limited the church’s homeless meal services to two days a week, and required a permit to serve free food in residential areas. It was passed in response to resident complaints.KGW reported the church’s Rev. Bernie Lindley describing feeding people as an expression of religious belief.
“That’s the way we express our faith: by caring for people who are on the margins, especially people who are hungry,” Lindley said.The church has served free meals since 2009, according to KGW. During the pandemic, they increased meal services to six per week, which prompted the resident complaints.
But the church’s legal battles are not over yet. KGW reported that the city is asking the church to stop shower and advocacy services, a move the church has appealed.
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