Possible New Injunction May Allow NY Churches to Remain in School Buildings

Good news may be near for dozens of New York City churches currently out of a building to meet and worship in on Sundays following an "optimistic" hearing on Tuesday.

Through the continued efforts of the Alliance Defense Fund, a new injunction may be granted by U.S. District Court Chief Justice Loretta A. Preska delaying the eviction of churches from city schools. A ban on churches using public school buildings for worship service in the weekends went into effect last Sunday.

ADF attorneys were back in court on Tuesday on behalf of the Bronx Household of Faith, hoping to seek a preliminary and/or permanent injunction against the New York City Department of Education's regulations banning "religious worship services" in school facilities.

They asked that the court "invalidate and restrain" the DOE's "unconstitutional and discriminatory" policy, arguing that it violated the free exercise of religion and Establishment Clause.

"I think there is a good likelihood that the Judge is going to issue an injunction," Jordan Lorence, the lead counsel for ADF, told The Christian Post over the phone. "We don't know for sure but we were optimistic by how things went and we may see churches be able to meet in the public schools from Feb. 13 and onward."

The hearing lasted an hour and a half and resulted in Judge Preska asking the DOE if they were willing to hold off on their ban – allowing churches to temporarily continue meeting in school facilities – while she reviewed the case. Keep reading