Oregon city can't limit church's homeless meal services

[Jazzy]

A federal judge has ruled that a southern Oregon city can’t limit a local church’s homeless meal services.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Clarke found that an ordinance passed by the small city of Brookings, on the southern Oregon coast, violated the religious freedom rights of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, KGW reported. He issued his opinion on Wednesday.

The 2021 ordinance limited the church’s homeless meal services to two days a week, and required a permit to serve free food in residential areas. It was passed in response to resident complaints.

The church sued the city in 2022, saying the ordinance violated its right to freely practice religion.

KGW reported the church’s Rev. Bernie Lindley describing feeding people as an expression of religious belief.

Full article

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What homeless meal services does your church offer?

 

[Lamb]

My church doesn't have an oven, so we can't do anything like that by law, but we do collect canned goods and we do a community garden to give to people who are hungry.

 

[tango]

I live in a rural community and as far as I know we don't have homeless people here.

Some of the churches in town offer food and clothing to people in need. I don't know how they determine need.

 

[Forgiven1]

Our churches do not have any specific program. Members had and do help homeless on an as needed basis.