Summary
In a victory for Harbor Community Church’s homeless services program in Ventura, a federal appeals court on Monday revived the church’s request for a preliminary injunction against the city.
Harbor is seeking an injunction so it can reopen Operation Embrace until its federal religious freedom lawsuit against the city is litigated to a conclusion.
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The church praised the ruling in a statement released through Stanford law professor James Sonne, the director of the university’s Religious Liberty Clinic, which represents the church.
“We are delighted by the 9th Circuit’s ruling, and look forward to continuing to work toward a solution that will allow us to resume our ministry to Ventura’s poor,” the church said.
Sonne said the ruling “recognizes Harbor’s homeless ministry cannot be separated from its identity as a church and its rights under federal law. Today’s unanimous ruling casts significant doubt over the legality” of the city denying the church a conditional-use permit to operate its homeless program.
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