Continuing a legal battle that spans 16 years, more than 100 church leaders and legislators in New York City rallied at City Hall yesterday to get the city council to allow churches to worship in local public schools after hours. According to a Christian Post report, days earlier the Supreme Court refused to hear the case led by the Bronx Household of Faith, which means that the council’s policy against religious activity in the public school buildings remains in effect. Instead of conceding the loss, local church leaders are starting a new push to overturn the council’s policy with Assembly Bill A8800, which would prevent school districts from excluding groups from meeting on school property regardless of their religious content.
“The government cannot target religious services for exclusion from public buildings when they are open to other similar types of meetings,” commented Jordan Lorence, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, who has defended BHF during the 16-year battle.
According to the CP article, if the bill does not pass, churches will be unable to rent school facilities for worship beginning February 12, 2012.
