Freedom Updates
Advocates in Action
Press Release | Maine Church Sues School District After Discriminatory Leasing Process
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 25, 2023
CONTACT: nicole velasco @
media@faith-freedom.COM
Murrieta, CA – On Tuesday, a lawsuit was filed by Advocates for Faith and Freedom on behalf of The Pines Church challenging the Hermon School Committee for their inflammatory and discriminatory leasing processes that unfairly scrutinized church activity. The Hermon School Committee in the past has leased their properties to secular organizations and did not scrutinize their beliefs on sensitive religious and political topics.
The Pines Church was unfairly targeted because it was a church, and the Committee did not want to associate with them. Their beliefs in traditional Christian ideologies opened the door for the Hermon School Committee to discriminate against them by inquiring about their beliefs on sensitive cultural issues like gender identity, issues that bear no relationship to whether the church qualified for a lease. Their conduct violates the First Amendment, as well as Maine’s Public Accommodation Laws.
“Public institutions that seek to lease their facilities for revenue should not be able to discriminate based on religious or political conditions,” said Mariah Gondeiro, Legal Counsel and Vice President for Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “The Hermon School Committee has a history of leasing their properties to secular organizations without persecution. We are advocating for fair and equitable treatment under the law, and The Pines Church was denied that opportunity by the Hermon School Committee.”
“We are understandably disappointed with the process in which we had to go through, but we are not discouraged,” said Pastor Matt Gioia. “We have seen the Lord move through our church and grow our community so much since our founding. We are hopeful that we will be able to continue our worship and fellowship without discrimination.”
Church Victory: Peaceable Gathering Restored!
After a nearly two and a half year legal battle challenging the City of La Habra Heights’ discriminatory application of its noise ordinance against Word Aflame Tabernacle, Inc, Advocates for Faith & Freedom has secured a settlement with the City of La Habra Heights on behalf of Word Aflame. As part of the settlement, the City of La Habra Heights will pay a total of $200,000.00 and consistent with applicable law, including the United States Constitution, the City agrees to “enforce the La Habra Heights Municipal Code in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner.”
This settlement follows an earlier $140,000.00 settlement with the State and Los Angeles County defendants in the same matter. “While no monetary amount will ever repay Word Aflame for the challenges they faced while gathering to worship due to the City’s discriminatory actions, we are happy to see some vindication on behalf of Word Aflame’s religious rights and are hopeful the City will follow the law and not target places of worship moving forward,” commented Julianne Fleischer, Legal Counsel at Advocates for Faith & Freedom.
Thank you for your unwavering prayers and support! Your partnership enables these victories!
For the Lord your God is going with you!
He will fight for you against your enemies,
and he will give you victory!
Deuteronomy 20:4
Press Release | California Public School Teacher Fired For Her Religious Beliefs Sues California School District
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, May 3, 2023
CONTACT: Jake Matthews
Jake@jlkpolitical.COM
Advocates filed a lawsuit this week challenging Jurupa Unified School District in Riverside, California after the wrongful termination of public school teacher, Jessica Tapia, for her religious beliefs. Her termination comes after Jessica’s refusal to participate in harmful gender affirming school policies, such as allowing students to use a bathroom or locker room that does not match their biological sex.
The Jurupa Unified School District mandates that teachers and support staff participate in gender affirming care that is deceptive to parents, endangers students in school changing rooms and bathrooms, and directs faculty and staff to refrain from expressing their personal views and opinions on these policies; a clear violation of their First Amendment Rights.
Click below to watch Ingraham’s Angle, where Advocates Attorney, Mariah Gondeiro, and former public school teacher, Jessica Tapia, discuss the case.
