The suit, filed Monday, accuses the city and its officials of launching a harassment campaign against Dad's Place, a church in Bryan, for keeping its doors open 24/7 for the homeless.

The suit, filed Monday, accuses the city and its officials of launching a harassment campaign against Dad’s Place, a church in Bryan, for keeping its doors open 24/7 for the homeless.

An Ohio pastor who was charged with zoning violations for housing people experiencing homelessness has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Bryan and its officials.

Earlier this year, Pastor Chris Avell decided to keep the doors of his church, Dad’s Place, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to reach out to the city’s most “vulnerable.” Bryan is a small city of about 8,600 people, 65 miles west of Toledo.

In December, Avell was hit with 18 zoning violations by the city, which claimed he had violated a city ordinance that says residents can’t stay on the first floor of that property. Further, the local fire chief found a slew of fire code violations at the church.

Avell pleaded not guilty to the charges at his Jan. 11 arraignment, according to online court records.

Now he’s suing the city, claiming discrimination on the basis of religion and claiming city officials have launched a harassment campaign against the church.

    • waz@lemmy.world
      81·
      5 months ago

      Though I see your point, I’d rather have less Jesus in our government, not more.

      • Eezyville@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        8·
        5 months ago

        The government should not block him from exercising his religion though. Housing the people experiencing homelessness is exactly what Jesus would do.

        • CompostMaterial@lemmy.worldEnglish
          103·
          5 months ago

          No, people being assholes is what caused this. Mega corporations are what caused this. Jesus is a fairy tale no different than Snow White. People are what can make the world better or worse, not some mythical being or spell.

          • Zagorath@aussie.zoneEnglish
            11·
            5 months ago

            Jesus is a fairy tale no different than Snow White

            Eh, I mean, there is a real historical figure that the bible character is based on. The miracles obviously didn’t happen, but there’s reasonable debate to be had about how much of the other stuff regarding his teachings is accurate to the real person.