A federal judge has ruled that a southern Oregon city can't limit a local church's homeless meal services. KGW reports that U.S.

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.

  • @Dkarma
    6•8 months ago

    What’s amazing here is that a judge thinks feeding people is a religious belief.

    • @stoly
      28•8 months ago

      I don’t see that as a stretch. Religions throughout history have held that we must act altruistically and help others, though adherents often don’t respect that part of it all. For reference, I am a strict atheist.

    • @ChonkyOwlbear
      14•8 months ago

      Certainly makes more sense as a religious belief than not giving employees birth control.

    • The QuuuuuillEnglish
      12•8 months ago

      But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

      Luke 14:13-14

      Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

      Luke 10:30-37

      Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

      Matthew 6:19-20

      But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth

      John 3:17-18

      I would argue NOTHING is more central to Christianity than helping the homeless. And that’s before we start getting into comparative religion and finding that almost every religion emphasizes enlightenment coming from giving compassion to those that have nothing

    • @[email protected]English
      11•8 months ago

      It absolutely is if you follow the word of Christ. Unfortunately, most self-proclaimed Christians reject the word of Christ.