A court of New York City ruled that the Board of Education was not going against any laws in banning the Bronx Household of Faith from using public school facilities for worship during off-hours. This incident represents a conflict that has been taking place for decades between Christian leaders and NYC officials.
New York Daily News interviewed Pastor Robert Hall of the Bronx Household of Faith. He said, “This is about our rights. There seems to marginalize Christianity in civilization.” Though Christians are the main faith group that is being affected by the court’s new decision, it is estimated that other religious groups will be going through similar difficulties in acquiring spaces for worship.
In 2012, Judge Loretta Preska had ruled that prohibition of getting permits for holding worship services at school facilities was a violation of Free Exercise and Establishment Religion Clauses of the First Amendment. However, on Thursday, three-judge panel concluded that Judge Preska had wrongly concluded and the court was leaning towards a permanent injunction against the Board of Education. However, Judge John M. Walker, Jr. expressed a different view:
“In my view, the Board of Education’s policy that disallows ‘religious worship services’ after hours in public schools – limited public fora that are otherwise open to all – violates the Free Exercise Clause because it plainly discriminates against religious belief and cannot be justified by a compelling government interest. I would affirm the district court’s permanent injunction.”
There are many different views on this heated discussion that was taking place since 1995, and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) became the legal company that will be supporting Bronx Household of Faith.
