Town Wages War on Local Christian Pastor – ACLJ Secures Legal Victory

A Massachusetts town was unconstitutionally attacking the rights of a pastor (our client) and his church, preventing him from holding services or even advertising a Bible study. The ACLJ intervened with a demand letter and secured a victory for First Amendment rights.

Our client requested the use of the community meeting room in his town’s library. He wanted to host Bible studies and grief support meetings for his church. Initially, the library welcomed his requests; but later, the library director sent an email claiming that, according to “the Town Administration and Legal Counsel,” the meeting rooms of the library could only “be used for occasional events but not for recurring events like bi-monthly Bible studies.”

In the meantime, the pastor also tried to meet for a Bible study in the open area of a public park. He published an ad in his local newspaper regarding the Bible study, but town officials reacted by maliciously demanding that the newspaper pull the ad, claiming that “proper approval” had not been obtained.

Because of these egregious acts, the ACLJ sent a demand letter stating that our client should be immediately permitted to use meeting rooms under the same terms and conditions that apply to anyone else. We also demanded that the pastor and his church no longer be excluded from public parks because of their religious activity and that the town immediately cease threatening the newspaper for sharing information about a constitutionally protected event.

After lengthy negotiations between the ACLJ and the town, the town officials finally agreed to our demands, making two key concessions. First, they agreed to send a letter to the newspaper, acknowledging what the town had done and making clear that the newspaper is a private entity free to publish or not publish whatever it may choose. The town acknowledged that everyone is free to use public parks and open spaces, and citizens certainly don’t need the town’s approval to gather on public property.

Second, the town entered into an agreement allowing our client to use the library’s meeting room regularly. The pastor can use the room twice a month to hold meetings according to the generally applicable rules for the room. Anti-Christian local bureaucrats will no longer impede the church’s ministry.

The result of our negotiations was a major win for our client and a vindication of his right to engage in religious speech. It further represents a win for the First Amendment rights of Christians and churches.

If such a battle can be waged against Christians in a small town like this, your town could be next. If you or your church’s rights are being violated, the ACLJ is prepared to defend you. Never hesitate to reach out at ACLJ.org/HELP for legal counsel that is provided free of charge due to our generous donors.