12mo ago

Federal judge blocks Castle Rock from using code to stop church from providing temporary shelter to unhoused

www.denver7.com

A federal judge ruled that the Town of Castle Rock cannot enforce a land use code against The Rock evangelical church for providing temporary shelter for unhoused people on its property.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico handed down the ruling on Friday. The decision granted the church a preliminary injunction.

The church sued Castle Rock earlier this year after it received a "letter of determination" from the zoning manager stating that the church was violating zoning regulations and that it couldn't park RVs used as residences on site.

30 comments

If I know anything about towns named Castle Rock, that church is probably all vampires.
- As someone with a wall full of S.K. novels, I appreciate this reference.
- I'm not sure why people are downvoting you on this comment. I got the Stephen King reference too.
  
  Maybe they think I'm insulting religion? I don't know.
  
  Probably because reference jokes don't add anything useful to the discussion.
- I think Stephen King's Castle Rock is in Maine though.
good church
signed, an atheist
- I am with you. Every once in a while I have to admit that one here or there is doing good work.
  
  You can tell when a church is actually doing good work because right-wingers will try to stop them
This is the second time that the town of Castle Rock has taken the incorrect moral position.
- Also poised to elect Boebert as their representative! Having an incorrect moral position counter at 2 seems way too low.
  
  Oh, shit, I didn't realize that she was the rep for Castle Rock. I'm sorry.
unhoused
We did it! We've solved the homeless crisis!
Ridiculous. Churches pay no tax and act like they are above the law. This needs to change.
- I’m in agreement that churches need scrutiny, a lot more. But here is a church standing up for actual, biblically authorized Christian activity?
  
  And more importantly, activity that helps people in need instead of upholding archaic, patriarchal, and homophobic beliefs
- How is this church acting like it is above the law in this specific instance?
  It used the legal system to get a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of town land use code. Seems like it followed the law and the process is playing out as intended.
  
  The town's land use code IS the law! This activity isn't permitted. Bring the homeless into the church, don't turn it into a trailer park.
  This court just granted the church an injunction preventing enforcement of the law. Although this is America 2024, laws don't seem to matter anymore.
- This is one of the few instances I'm in favor of a church breaking the law. That law is unjust anyway and Jesus in the new testament consistently preaches that we should care for the sick, the needy and the homeless.
- This church is trying to provide houses for homeless people. Christianity started out being pretty unpopular with the law but that hasn't stopped them because laws don't define morality. I suppose if you don't want the church housing the homeless you can always invite them to your house.
- I mean the whole point of giving churches a tax break is that they're supposed to provide value to the community that is greater than any taxes could be. Most churches don't, though, and instead are a drain on the communities instead. At least this one is doing what they're suppose to do with those tax breaks.
  And this is probably the only time I've had reason to defend an evangelical church, ever.
- I think the Federal Court just decided the town of Castle Rock thought itself above the law, not the church.

30 comments