A California evangelical church is being forced to sell its property due to a city ordinance that prohibits houses of worship from occupying the first floor of downtown buildings, the Christian Post website reports today (June 22, 2020).
A federal court in San Francisco Bay Area recently sided with the city of Salinas, ruling that churches generate limited interest and do not draw tourists, and therefore distract from the city's goals of vibrancy.
"We have appealed this case to the Ninth Circuit, and we are optimistic that a different result will be reached upon review by a higher court," said Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), noting that while the church is banned from gathering, the city is allowing theaters and live entertainment to operate.
"This continues to be one of the most striking examples of unequal treatment under the law than children's theatre, two cinemas, and event center that share the city's downtown corridor with New Harvest Fellowship," said PJI Chief Counsel Kevin Snider, the attorney representing the church.
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