DOJ Sues Idaho City for Religious Discrimination Against Evangelical Church

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday accusing the City of Troy, Idaho, of religious discrimination over its denial of a land use permit to Christ Church, a small evangelical congregation.

According to a DOJ press release, the lawsuit—filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho—claims the city violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) when it denied the church’s application for a conditional use permit (CUP) to hold worship services in a zoning district where other nonreligious assemblies such as clubs, museums, and art galleries are permitted.

Christ Church reportedly outgrew its current facility and was unable to find a suitable rental space. The church submitted a CUP to use a property within a zone that legally allowed for other types of community gatherings. However, the City of Troy denied the request, citing opposition from a “great majority of the city residents.”

The DOJ argues the city’s actions imposed a “substantial burden” on the church’s religious exercise and were motivated by “the community’s discriminatory animus against the church.” Officials claim Troy’s zoning code unfairly treats religious assemblies less favorably than secular ones, thus violating RLUIPA’s substantial burden, equal terms, and non-discrimination provisions.

“RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that discriminate in land use matters on the basis of the applicants’ religious beliefs.”

In conjunction with the lawsuit, the DOJ also issued a letter to state and local officials across the country, reiterating their obligations under RLUIPA. The letter emphasized that the law protects religious communities from unjustified zoning burdens and ensures equal treatment under land-use regulations.

“The freedom to practice religion according to the dictates of one’s conscience is among our most fundamental rights,” the DOJ stated. “The Department continues to steadfastly defend this basic freedom to ensure that all people may live according to their beliefs, free of discrimination, harassment, or persecution.”

The DOJ concluded by affirming its commitment to upholding RLUIPA and ensuring that religious institutions are not unfairly excluded or encumbered by discriminatory local policies.

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