Joel Oster: Churches not considered desirable or necessary

ADF Attorney Joel Oster writing at Speak Up Movement / Church: “[A] recent decision by the Seventh Circuit Court of appeals in River of Life Kingdom Ministries v. Village of Hazel Crest, Illinois, threatens to gut the protections of RLUIPA . . . According to the court, the town was justified in discriminating against the city because ‘commerce and industry’ are ‘necessary and desirable elements of the community’. But what about the church? Is not the work of the church necessary and desirable for the community? Of course it is. But to certain government officials who only understand the value of the dollar, providing moral direction and the other benefits of churches is worthless.” | More information on the case is available here.