A federal judge has blocked a southern Oregon city’s attempt to shut down a church’s homeless meal service, finally ruling against the city government in an important First Amendment case.
KGW reports that U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Clark ruled Wednesday that an ordinance passed in Brookings, a small city on the southern coast of Oregon, would affect St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, which regularly provides meals to the homeless. The court ruled that the right to religious freedom was violated, KGW reported.
The ordinance, originally approved by the city in 2021, would have required a permit to provide free meals in residential areas and would have limited churches to providing homeless meals to two days a week.
The church, which has been providing free meals since 2009, later filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming the ordinance violated its right to freely practice religion. On Wednesday, a federal judge agreed with the church’s opinion.
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A federal judge ruled Wednesday that an ordinance passed in Brookings, a small city on Oregon’s southern coast, violates St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church’s religious freedom rights. (Google Maps)
In his ruling, Clark said the city failed to provide a good reason to limit the number of days the church could provide free meals.
The Rev. Bernie Lindley of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church said his church feeds people as an expression of its religious beliefs.
“This is how we express our faith, by caring for those who are on the margins, especially those who are hungry,” Lindley said, according to a KGW report.
The church, which has been providing free meals since 2009, subsequently took legal action and sued the city in 2022. (Google Maps)
“We knew we wouldn’t be able to comply with the ordinance,” Lindley added. “We reluctantly filed suit because we knew it was unconstitutional.”
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In 2021, churches saw an increased need to provide meals among their communities as the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent government orders forced the closure of various businesses. , decided to extend the program.
The judge’s ruling preserves meal service, but the city and church are engaged in another legal battle. (St. Petersburg)
Meal service was increased to six times a week to accommodate increased demand, but residents complained. The city responded with an ordinance that disrupted additional services.
While the judge’s ruling helps keep meal services open, the city and church are engaged in another legal battle.
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KGW reported that the city asked the church to cancel showers and advocacy activities. The Church appealed these instructions.
Brookings is located in southwestern Oregon, less than nine miles from California’s northern border.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
