Follow-up on San Diego Church

A I reported previously a Church in San Diego was told to shut down because the building they were meeting in was zone for a bar, not a church. They could, however, open a bar.

From WorldNetDaily...

A federal judge scolded San Diego County for closing a Christian church's worship center and ordered officials to process permits needed by the congregation to remedy violations.

The ruling found that Guatay Christian Fellowship, on Old Highway 80 in San Diego County, probably will win its lawsuit against the county, which had shut down the building and banned the congregation from meeting there over a zoning issue.

County officials said the building could be used for a bar, but not worship, and ordered the church, which had rented the building for nearly 25 years, to close under the threat of criminal penalties and fines of up to $2,500 per day....

The judge's preliminary injunction against the county prevents it from further implementing its "harsh" cease-and-desist order, officials said.

"To effectively deprive a group of individuals from practicing their religious beliefs at a site in continuous use for over 20 years, presents extraordinary circumstances," the judge wrote.

The Pacific Justice Institute which has been defending the church in court, plans on suing the county for "violation of the church's religious, assembly, and speech rights".

Posted by Danny Carlton at November 29, 2008 6:34 AM