Nicholas Riccardi reports in the Los Angeles Times:
Some communities, wary of bells, parochial schools and bustle, have tried to keep out churches with zoning changes and public hearings. But officials with the Alliance Defense Fund, a religious liberties legal group representing the church, said the case is the first they know of in which criminal law has been used to keep a church quiet.
“It’s frankly a little bit astonishing,” said alliance attorney Gary S. McCaleb, contending the case violates the church’s 1st Amendment freedom to practice its religion. “It’s very clearly an expression and outworking of their faith.”
