This is a win for the church.
A judge has ruled that a church in Arizona can proceed with its lawsuit against a city that shut down its food ministry, which had been providing food to hundreds of families near the U.S. southern border. Senior U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow denied the city of San Luis’ request to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Gethsemani Baptist Church. Snow’s ruling indicated that the church has a legitimate claim to continue its operations, finding that the church had presented enough facts to justify seeking legal relief.
Gethsemani Baptist Church, supported by the First Liberty Institute (FLI), argues that the city’s actions were unjust, as the church had been meeting a critical need in the community without utilizing government resources. Camille Varone, an associate counsel at FLI, expressed outrage at the city’s efforts to stop a ministry aimed at feeding the hungry, emphasizing that the church’s work for the vulnerable should be supported, not hindered.
In March, the church filed a lawsuit against the city of San Luis, its mayor, city manager, and code enforcement officer. The complaint alleges that the city shut down the church’s food distribution ministry, which had been operating since 1999. The city claimed the ministry violated zoning laws, particularly regarding the use of large trucks in a residential area, and deemed it “commercial-level food distribution.” However, the church maintained that it had operated as a “legal nonconforming use” under the zoning code, meaning it had been allowed to continue its activities in the residential zone.
In response, the U.S. Department of Justice intervened in the case, stating that the church’s food ministry was protected under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The DOJ emphasized that federal law safeguards religious exercise, including ministries that serve those in need, and municipalities cannot impose zoning restrictions that unjustly burden religious practices.
This ruling allows the lawsuit to move forward, and the church hopes it will enable them to resume providing vital support to the community.