[MassHistPres] Church sues over district creation

[Brian Yates]

If the building is no longer a church, how is the Free Exercise of Religion
restricted?

On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 7:21 PM, Ralph Slate <slater at alum.rpi.edu> wrote:

> The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield is suing the city for including a
> church in a historic district:
>
>
> http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/roman_catholic_diocese_of_spri_7.html
>
> It's safe to say that this case has enormous impact on historic
> preservation in the state.
>
> The basis for the suit is that historic designation of the church violates
> freedom of religion, speech, expression, assembly, and equal protection
> guaranteed under both the US and Massachusetts constitutions. The church is
> looking to nullify the district and is also seeking compensatory damages.
>
> The church is advancing the theory that the district was created with
> unnecessary haste, and out of political expediency.
>
> It is important to note that the church is no longer serving as a church --
> it has been closed, and presumably deconsecrated. So even though it looks
> like a church, it is just a building now.
>
> Ralph Slate
> Chair
> Springfield Historical Commission
>
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