A Catholic service organization has sued the Biden administration for religious discrimination after it was prevented from holding its long-standing Memorial Day Mass at a national cemetery.
Lawyers for the Knights of Columbus filed a petition Tuesday with the National Park Service (NPS) in Petersburg, Virginia, for a temporary restraining order after the agency denied permission to hold religious services at Poplar Grove National Cemetery. I woke you up.
This is the second year in a row that the religious group has been denied permission at the cemetery where it has held Memorial Day masses for the past 60 years.
“The policies and decisions that prevent the Knights of Columbus from continuing their longstanding religious traditions are a clear violation of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA),” said John Moran, a partner at McGuireWoods who is suing on behalf of the NPS. Knights members said in a press release. “We ask the court to grant our restraining order and allow the Knights to hold services this Memorial Day.”
Officials at the national park, which manages the cemetery, defended the permit denial in a statement. washington times.
“National cemeteries are established as national shrines to commemorate those who have died in the service of our country, and as such, special activities within cemeteries are restricted to military service or limited official commemoration related to military service. It is reserved for activities that have historical and monumental significance for certain national cemeteries,” St. Petersburg National Battlefield Director Alexa Viets told the Times.
Religious services and vigils have since been classified as “demonstrations.” At least in 1986, It is prohibited in national cemeteries, according to the park’s website.
“Special events or demonstrations, whether spontaneous or organized, are prohibited, except for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and special historical and This restriction excludes official commemorative events held on other days designated as having commemorative significance. the rules say.
But lawyers representing the Knights said the order had been allowed to hold Mass and prayer services at the cemetery every Memorial Day for many years until a recent policy change.
“The National Park Service is way out of line,” First Liberty senior adviser Roger Byron said in a statement. “This is the type of unlawful discrimination and censorship that RFRA and the First Amendment were enacted to prevent. We hope the courts will grant the Order the relief it needs to keep this honorable tradition alive.” I hope.”
A court hearing on the temporary restraining order is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
The National Park Service said it does not comment on pending litigation.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Petersburg National Battlefield for comment.
