NYC Restraining Order on School Eviction Only Applies to One Church

Churches across New York City were preparing to hold worship services in spaces rented from public schools Sunday before discovering that a court order this week did not apply to them.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York had issued a 10-day restraining order Thursday as it waited to decide an appeal in a case that banned churches from renting space in public schools for worship services.

About 50 churches applied for permits after the decision. Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg believed the decision applied to all churches, and the city approved the permits.

The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals announced Friday, however, that the decision had been misunderstood. It only applied to one church, Bronx Household of Faith, which initially brought the case to court.

The city then revoked the permits it had already granted, except the one for Bronx Household.

Some pastors complained that the mix-up caused logistical difficulties for their worship service plans. Keep reading