A “federal case” was made out a Bronx church’s desire to continue to hold services at a Bronx public school after former Mayor Mike Bloomberg banned the practice, and an appeals court struck down an earier ruling preventing the Mayor’s ban.
“The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that a city ban on religious services in schools is constitutional.
It’s the latest development in a two-decade legal battle involving the Bronx Household of Faith.
The decision struck down a lower court ruling that blocked the city from enforcing the ban.
The lower court found that the ban violated First Amendment protections regarding free exercise of faith.
A dispute broke out among city officials after the February 2012 ruling. City Councilman Fernando Cabrera (D-14th) said no churches had permission from the Board of Education
to use the space, and none would be allowed to do so.”
The Councilman weighed in yesterday afternoon:
“My disappointment in the U.S. Second Circuit’s decision to uphold former Mayor Bloomberg’s policy evicting houses of worship from New York City Schools is tempered in the hope that Mayor Bill de Blasio will, as promised, move quickly and reverse this discriminatory policy aimed exclusively at houses of worship,” said Council Member Fernando Cabrera. “The Mayor with a single swipe of his pen can offer immediate relief to thousands of his fellow New Yorkers who now face the prospect of not knowing if they will have a place to celebrate the Easter or Passover holiday.“
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