For more than 25 years the parishioners of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church have sold Christmas trees.
A good many folks around the Village of the Branch in New York have purchased their trees from the church.
The money is used to fund St. Patrick’s various ministries to the community.
But this year village leaders issued a cease and desist notice. They said the church failed to obtain a special use permit – something they never had to do in the past.
So, the church complied with the law and submitted an application. But then – village leaders told the congregation there was another rule they had violated.
It seems the town’s zoning ordinance prohibits any fundraising events from being held on church property within 90 days of each event.
That was a problem because St. Patrick’s holds an annual fall family festival.
First Liberty Institute said village leaders are being cruel and accused them of targeting the church over religious issues.
“The Village of Branch, New York has dampened the Christmas spirit this year by abruptly halting the decades-old, well-loved Christmas tree fundraiser event by St. Patrick’s Catholic Church,” said Ryan Gardner, Senior Counsel for First Liberty. “The Village has singled out the church for harassment and unequal treatment while allowing other organizations to conduct seasonal sales events.”
First Liberty attorneys explain that the “the Village’s ordinances target the Church’s fundraising activities for disparate treatment because of the Church’s religious status—something the Supreme Court has repeatedly held to be ‘odious to our Constitution.’”
The only thing worse than a Grinch is a godless Grinch.