‘All people of faith have been granted the right to worship and pray with like-minded people’
By Bob Unruh
(Photo by Joe Kovacs)
A legal fight has been triggered in New Hampshire because of a town’s demand that a group of people meeting for religious services must undergo an extensive – and expensive – permitting process that is not being required for those groups that are secular.
A report from First Liberty Institute explains that a request has been filed for a preliminary injunction against officials in the town of Weare, accusing them of violating the law by requiring an “expensive and onerous site review plan” for the church to meet in the pastor’s home.
“Hundreds of thousands of Americans meet every day in homes for prayer meetings, Bible studies, book clubs, card games, and other gatherings. Why would Weare city officials demand this small church stop meeting in the pastor’s home, but ignore Super Bowl parties and political gatherings?” asked Jeremy Dys, senior counsel for First Liberty Institute. “Since the day the First Amendment became law all people of faith have been granted the right to worship and pray in their home with like-minded people.”