The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal action against the small town of Troy, Idaho, on allegations that the municipality contravened federal law by impeding an evangelical church from occupying its preferred place of worship. The DOJ's lawsuit, filed on May 20, asserts that Troy's rebuff of a conditional use permit for Christ Church is in breach of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
Established in 2000, RLUIPA prohibits local governments from discriminating against religious assemblies in a manner that is more unfavorable than comparable secular entities. Despite Troy's downtown C-1 commercial zone being open to clubs, museums, auditoriums, and art galleries, the lawsuit claims that Christ Church was unjustifiably barred from the district.
The conflict arose when church elder Matt Meyer bought a vacant bank building in November 2022 with the intention of dividing the space between religious services and a community event area. Meyer's application underscored the potential for property-tax revenue and posited that weekend services would not significantly impact local commerce, according to Fox News.
However, during a March public hearing, residents expressed concerns regarding traffic, parking scarcity, and discomfort with the conservative views of Douglas Wilson, a senior pastor at the church. Subsequently, the Troy City Council denied the request, stating the church did not enhance the commercial district's vitality and posed a strain on the town's population, which is less than 1,000.
The DOJ's legal challenge questions these justifications, noting that the city permits nonreligious events that attract comparable crowds and parking issues. The complaint points out that Troy conducted no traffic studies and did not attempt to negotiate to alleviate concerns, such as restricting service times or reserving parking.
Moreover, the DOJ cited public comments that revealed bias and discrimination against Christ Church and its members based on religious beliefs. The lawsuit accuses Troy of imposing a "substantial burden" on the church's religious exercise and of treating it differently than secular assemblies.
This lawsuit follows the recent formation of an anti-Christian bias task force by Attorney General Pam Bondi, as part of a DOJ effort to address discrimination against Christian entities. This task force, as reported by Resist the Mainstream, underscores a larger initiative to combat perceived nationwide anti-Christian bias.
Troy's attorney, Todd Richardson, labeled the DOJ's actions as "bullying tactics," highlighting that Christ Church has been conducting services in the building for two years during the DOJ investigation without complaints. He emphasized the need to maintain a commercial core in the town.
Douglas Wilson, known for his contentious writings and protests against mask mandates, asserted that his views should not influence the approval of a religious assembly. In April, Troy passed an interim zoning ordinance that excluded auditoriums, community centers, and places of worship from the C-1 district, effectively barring churches unless the code is revised.
The DOJ seeks declaratory relief, an injunction to permit Christ Church to use the building, and reimbursement of legal fees. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division highlighted the government's commitment to upholding religious freedom and vowed to challenge jurisdictions that discriminate based on religious beliefs.
