Christians denied permit for service

[Amelia]

Christians denied permit for service

Won't allow National Day of Prayer program at city hall

April 16, 2005

WorldNetDaily.com

A Michigan city faces a possible civil-rights lawsuit for denying a permit to a Christian group that wants to celebrate the National Day of Prayer with a meeting in front of city hall.

The Troy National Day of Prayer Christian Task Force in Troy, Mich., says it has gathered at city hall in Veteran's Plaza for each of the past 10 years for the national commemoration, held this year May 5.

City officials rejected the permit request a month ago then reversed course, deciding to also give a permit to the Troy Interfaith Group, an organization that says it represents six religions and 13 houses of worship.

The council reportedly decided to accommodate the interfaith group because some citizens were unhappy the annual gathering would be restricted to Christians.

But the interfaith group later backed out, prompting the city to withdraw the Christian Task Force's permit.

In response, the American Family Association's Center for Law & Policy faxed a formal demand letter Wednesday, informing city officials they will face a federal civil rights lawsuit if they continue to unconstitutionally deny the permit.

"The First Amendment protects religious speech to the same extent it protects political speech," said Stephen M. Crampton, chief counsel for law center.

Crampton said the U.S. Supreme Court "has made clear that government cannot exclude private religious speech merely because it occurs on public property."

Veterans Plaza is a traditional public forum for speech, he pointed out.

"The Supreme Court has been unambiguous in holding that government cannot reclassify a traditional public forum into a limited or non-public forum, as the city is apparently attempting to do here," Crampton said.

The letter gave city officials until Tuesday to confirm the city's final decision on the matter.

Mayor Louise E. Schilling said the council designated Veterans Plaza only for city-sponsored events, the Royal Oak Daily Tribune of Royal Oak, Mich., reported.

The council said three other city sites -- the city hall front lawn, the city hall north parking lot and a grassy area -- can be used for a "limited forum" by groups through the city's Parks & Recreation Department, the paper said.