This case is about the abuse of power by governmental officials who are hostile to the ministry of a local church.
Adventure Church of Fresno, California has been delayed, by the city, in the purchase of their new church building. The Church entered a contract to purchase the Tower Theatre property in 2020. Since then, the City has shown it will stop at nothing to prevent the Church from buying the property. In December 2020, anti-Christian activist groups started protesting the Church’s purchase of the historic property because they did not want a religious group to own the property. The City Council then proceeded to do everything it can to unlawfully interfere with the Church’s purchase of the property, including entering into a financially reckless decision to buy the property for well over market value with tax-payer money, despite the valid and ongoing contract between the Church and Tower Theatre owners.
The Church is suing the City of Fresno for intentional and negligent interference with contract and violation of RLUIPA, 42 U.S.C. §2000cc, among other things. The Church is seeking damages and injunctive relief against the City.
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