Protect The 1st Foundation
  • About
    • Leadership
  • Issues
  • Scorecards
  • News
  • Take Action
    • PRESS Act
    • Save Oak Flat Act
  • DONATE
  • About
    • Leadership
  • Issues
  • Scorecards
  • News
  • Take Action
    • PRESS Act
    • Save Oak Flat Act
  • DONATE
Picture

Oregon Church Shows Religious Expression Is a Hands-on Affair

1/9/2022

 
Picture
​St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church is fighting a town edict that prohibits the church from feeding homeless people more than twice a week – and in so doing, is defending the right to religious expression through good works.
 
The city council of Brookings, Oregon, passed an ordinance in late October that severely restricts area ministries from feeding the city’s homeless population. The new ordinance halves the ability of St. Timothy’s to provide food – from four days a week to just two. The ordinance, which directly targets the church and faith ministries in the area, was passed after some city residents complained about the ministry’s soup kitchens. St. Timothy’s is not the only target of such measures. Localities around the country have tightened restrictions that give aid to the homeless.
 
This case reminds us that the First Amendment does not merely protect the rights of the religious to worship on Sunday (or Friday, or Saturday). It also protects the right to express devotion by helping the helpless. Charitable work has been fundamental to religious ministry in the United States since the country was founded. As Rev. Bernie Lindley, vicar of St. Timothy’s, said, “Feeding hungry people is at the core of what our church believes Jesus calls us to do. We do not see how a municipality can interfere with that mission without violating our constitutional right to freely practice our faith.”
 
That is the essence of religious expression. It’s no wonder the leading religious liberty law firm, Becket, recently awarded their 2021 Ebenezer Award to Brookings, Oregon.

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021

    Categories

    All
    2022 Year In Review
    Amicus Briefs
    Analysis
    Campus Speech
    Court Hearings
    Donor Privacy
    First Amendment
    First Amendment Online
    Freedom Of Press
    Freedom Of Religion
    Freedom Of Speech
    In The Media
    Journalism
    Law Enforcement
    Legal
    Legislative Agenda
    Motions
    News
    Opinion
    PRESS Act
    PT1 Amicus Briefs
    Save Oak Flat
    School Choice
    SCOTUS
    Section 230
    Supreme Court

    RSS Feed

we  the  people.

LET  YOUR  VOICE  BE  HEARD:


ABOUT

Who We Are

​Leadership

ISSUES

1st Amendment

TAKE ACTION

Donate

​Contact Us
® Copyright 2022 Protect The 1st Foundation