#RLUIPA
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citizenptnewsca.bsky.social
The La Cañada Flintridge Planning Commission has denied a church's request for a vibrant six-door sign, igniting a fierce debate over religious expression and community standards.

Read the full story.

#LaCañadaFlintridgeLosAngelesCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #CommunityInclusion #ReligiousExpression
La Cañada Flintridge planning commission denies church's variance for rainbow 'doors' display
After hours of legal and policy debate over whether the church's six‑door artwork is protected religious expression under RLUIPA, the commission denied a variance that would have allowed the 120‑sq‑ft ground sign along Foothill Boulevard; vote was 3–0 with one abstention.
https://citizenportal.ai/articles/11391760/La-Cañada-Flintridge/Los-Angeles-County/California/La-Cañada-Flintridge-planning-commission-denies-churchs-variance-for-rainbow-doors-display?source=bluesky&loc=CA
October 24, 2026 at 3:21 PM
nuvanews.bsky.social
The Justice Department settled a RLUIPA violation by allowing religious uses as of right in Atlantic Beach, New York.

(Published Oct 21, 2026)

Source: DOJ
Justice Department Resolves Claims that Atlantic Beach, New York’s Zoning Code Violated Religious Land Use Provisions
The Justice Department settled a RLUIPA violation by allowing religious uses as of right in Atlantic Beach, New York.
www.justice.gov
October 21, 2026 at 8:24 PM
gabrielmalor.bsky.social
Judge Matey, in dissent, says bc the RLUIPA claim is good, there's no point in favoring the status quo ante, and they should grant the PI so the church can start permitting/building process now rather than wait for relief on the merits.
October 19, 2026 at 6:20 PM
gabrielmalor.bsky.social
3d Cir., 2-1, holds that church is likely to succeed on RLUIPA claim against township which won't rezone for them bc of their pro-life beliefs, BUT no PI bc it would upset the status quo and monetary harm is not irreparable.

www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/262...
We presume irreparable injury whenever an impediment delays a party’s religious exercise. Del. State Sportsmen’s, 108 F.4th at 204. We do that because religious exercise is often time-sensitive and secular courts are ill-equipped to weigh religious harms. Id. It is not clear that this First Amendment presumption always applies to RLUIPA, but even if it does, “presumptions are rebuttable,” and here, the presumption is rebutted. Binderup v. Att’y Gen., 836 F.3d 336, 350 (3d Cir. 2016) (en banc) (Ambro, J., op.). Holy Trinity will not suffer a timesensitive, spiritual harm that a preliminary injunction could prevent. The primary harm that Holy Trinity alleges as the basis for preliminary relief is monetary, not spiritual. The denial of a preliminary injunction, it argues, “prevents Holy Trinity from fundraising for the Shrine during this litigation.” Appellant’s Br. 62. Maybe so. But it does not follow “that lost time pursuing this essential aspect of the project cannot be recovered.” Id. Lost time for worshipping is irreparable; lost time for
October 19, 2026 at 6:19 PM
dustcircle.bsky.social
Backers of #HasidicSchool May Move Ahead with Challenges to #Zoning Denials

#Congregation #Rabbinical #Tartikov #Pomona #Hasidic #Jewish #community #NewYork #housing #students #equalprotection #freeexercise #freedomofspeech #FairHousingAct #RLUIPA

religionclause.blogspot.com/2026/10/back...
Backers of Hasidic School May Move Ahead with Challenges to Zoning Denials
Congregation Rabbinical Institute of Tartikov, Inc. v. Village of Pomona, NY , (SD NY, Sept.28, 2026), is the latest decision in a long-runn...
religionclause.blogspot.com
October 6, 2026 at 1:04 PM
scotusgate.bsky.social
That's the one - the RLUIPA substantial burden question here could really reshape how land-use boards handle religious building requests. Broke down the key issues here: https://scotusgate.com/case.php?number=25-1131
October 5, 2026 at 3:57 PM
scotusgate.bsky.social
The Court has narrowed Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist, Inc. v. Frederic to a single question: does barring a religious institution from building on its own land count as a "substantial burden" under RLUIPA. A test case for how far the law protects religious construction.
Court Narrows RLUIPA Case to Substantial Burden Question
The Supreme Court granted certiorari in a Kentucky zoning dispute but limited review to RLUIPA's substantial burden provision, leaving the Equal Terms question unresolved.
scotusgate.com
October 5, 2026 at 3:57 PM
mrhanbury.bsky.social
RLUIPA?
October 3, 2026 at 1:40 AM
dustcircle.bsky.social
#SupremeCourt Grants Review in #RLUIPA "Substantial Burden" Case Involving Denial of #Zoning Variance for a #Grotto

#US #MissionariesofStJohn #Frederic #Kentucky #church #VirginMary #Lourdes #France #religiousexercise
religionclause.blogspot.com/2026/10/supr...
Supreme Court Grants Review in RLUIPA "Substantial Burden" Case Involving Denial of Zoning Variance for a Grotto
The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday granted review in Missionaries of St. John, Inc. v. Frederic,  (Docket No.25-1131, certiorari  granted 10/1...
religionclause.blogspot.com
October 2, 2026 at 12:54 PM
kelseyreichmann.bsky.social
The justices also took up an RLUIPA question in Missionaries of St. John v. Frederic and whether USFSPA require state courts to refuse enforcement of indemnification provisions in divorce settlement agreements in Roxane v. Marschner
October 1, 2026 at 1:40 PM
beverlymann19.bsky.social
The RLUIPA case of course has already been decided. The argument and quick opinion afterward are just procedural necessities.
October 1, 2026 at 5:02 PM
micahschwartzman.bsky.social
SCOTUS granted cert today on what counts as substantial burden under RLUIPA’s land use provisions. If this wasn’t on your radar, Amir Downing has an excellent note forthcoming in the Virginia Law Review, taking a deep dive into the circuit conflict. A preview here:

papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Religious Land Use Exceptionalism: The Meaning of "Substantial Burden" in RLUIPA
Religious organizations have fairly predictable needs that come into conflict with the interests of local government. In a land use context, a religious organiz
papers.ssrn.com
October 1, 2026 at 4:05 PM
foxnews.com.web.brid.gy
EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Court prayer grotto case could impact 'every single zoning law' in America, attorney says
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a Kentucky Catholic church's fight over a prayer grotto, a case that could reshape RLUIPA zoning law nationwide.
www.foxnews.com
October 2, 2026 at 12:39 AM
queensicez.bsky.social
www.foxnews.com/politics/exc...
EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Court prayer grotto case could impact 'every single zoning law' in America, attorney says
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a Kentucky Catholic church's fight over a prayer grotto, a case that could reshape RLUIPA zoning law nationwide.
www.foxnews.com
October 2, 2026 at 12:32 AM
american-news-day.bsky.social
EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Court prayer grotto case could impact 'every single zoning law' in America, attorney says

https://fascinating.news/r/QtvVgONk
EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Court prayer grotto case could impact 'every single zoning law' in America, attorney says
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a Kentucky Catholic church's fight over a prayer grotto, a case that could reshape RLUIPA zoning law nationwide.
fascinating.news
October 2, 2026 at 12:30 AM
tstaub.bsky.social
I feel an NJ town is going to end up being a RLUIPA test case as they discriminate against Muslims and Haredim. Marlboro just rejected a Mosque after the planning board was compelled to vote on it.
October 1, 2026 at 12:02 AM
brlawrencelc.com
This could be a very interesting RLUIPA case before SCOTUS, though I'm not sure how helpful it will ultimately be to petitioners given cert was only granted as to the first of their questions presented.
www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
Docket for 25-1131
www.supremecourt.gov
October 1, 2026 at 2:51 PM
katiesaurusseven.bsky.social
with alt text
QUESTION PRESENTED Whether 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(2)(A) mandates the detention pending removal proceedings of aliens who, like respondent, are present in the United States without having been admitted. QUESTIONS PRESENTED 1. Whether a land-use regulation that prohibits a religious institution from building a religious structure on its own property constitutes a "substantial burden" on religious exercise under the Substan-tial Burden Provision of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a). 2. Whether a land-use regulation violates the Equal Terms Provision of RLUIPA, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(1), by imposing express restrictions on religious assemblies or institutions that it does not impose on nonreligious assemblies or institutions. CERTIORARI GRANTED 25-1131 MISSIONARIES OF ST. JOHN, INC. V. FREDERIC, JOEL, ET UX. The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted limited to Question 1 presented by the petition. 25-1349 MARSCHNER, ROXANE M. V. MARSCHNER, RICHARD A. 26-104 RHONEY, ACTING DIR. V. BARBOSA DA CUNHA, RICARDO Α. The petitions for writs of certiorari are granted. QUESTION PRESENTED In the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act ("USFSPA"), Congress provided that a State may treat veterans' longevity-based retirement pay as divisible property in divorce. 10 U.S.C. § 1408(c). But Congress further provided that retirement pay that was waived to receive disability pay, as well as certain retirement pay received due to disability-related retirements, would be indivisible. 10 U.S.C. § 1408(a)(4)(A)(ii), (iii). In Howell v. Howell, 581 U.S. 214 (2017), a divorced veteran waived a portion of his longevity-based retirement pay in order to receive disability pay, causing his ex-wife's share of his retirement pay to decrease. The divorce court ordered him to indemnify his ex-wife for that reduction. This Court held that the USFSPA preempted that indemnification order. See id. at 222. In this case, unlike in Howell, the parties agreed as part of their divorce settlement that the veteran would indemnify his ex-wife if her share of his retirement pay were reduced because he later waived his retirement pay to receive disability benefits or because he received disability-based retirement pay. Even though the veteran agreed to the indemnification provision at the time of the divorce, the North Dakota Supreme Court nonetheless held that, under Howell, enforcement of the indemnification provision was preempted. The question presented is: Does the USFSPA require state courts to refuse enforcement of indemnification provisions in divorce settlement agreements?
October 1, 2026 at 1:55 PM
damnewsen.bsky.social
EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Court prayer grotto case could impact 'every single zoning law' in America, attorney says #damnews #dam
EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Court prayer grotto case could impact 'every single zoning law' in America, attorney says
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a Kentucky Catholic church's fight over a prayer grotto, a case that could reshape RLUIPA zoning law nationwide. FIRST ON FOX: The Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear a Kentucky church’s fight to build a prayer grotto on its property, taking up a dispute over what… (Source: moxie.foxnews.com)
dlvr.it
October 2, 2026 at 12:21 AM
citizenptnewstn.bsky.social
Knoxville City Council unanimously denied a religious-land-use exemption request that could have reshaped a neighborhood, citing critical fire-safety concerns and legal standards.

Get the details!

#KnoxCounty #TN #CitizenPortal #KnoxvilleZoning #HousingPolicy #FireSafety #ReligiousFreedom
Council upholds zoning decision, denies Marlowe’s religious-land-use exemption request
After hearing testimony from the appellant and city staff, Knoxville City Council unanimously denied Arventley Marlowe’s appeal seeking a RLUIPA/Tennessee religious-freedom exemption to avoid owner-occupancy and ADU size restrictions at 1406 Wallace St.; council cited fire-safety concerns, alternative options and the legal standard described by the law department.
citizenportal.ai
October 2, 2026 at 1:41 AM
newsarab24.bsky.social
🌍 وافقت المحكمة العليا الأمريكية على النظر في قضية كنيسة في كنتاكي تسعى لبناء مغارة صلاة على أرضها، في نزاع قانوني حول ما إذا كان منع بناء مثل هذا المعلم يمثل "عبئًا جوهريًا" على الحرية الدينية وفقًا للقانون الفيدرالي المتعلق باستخدام الأراضي. القضية تخص مغارة صغيرة تبلغ مساحتها حوال...
وافقت المحكمة العليا الأمريكية على النظر في قضية كنيسة في كنتاكي تسعى لبناء مغارة صلاة على أرضها، في نزاع قانوني حول ما إذا كان منع بناء مثل هذا المعلم يمثل "عبئًا جوهريًا" على الحرية الدينية وفقًا للقانون الفيدرالي المتعلق باستخدام الأراضي. القضية تخص مغارة صغيرة تبلغ مساحتها حوالي 600 قدم مربع مخصصة لتكريم ظهور العذراء مريم، ورفض مالكا عقارين مجاورين منح التصريح، ما دفع النزاع إلى المحاكم. القضية تسلط الضوء على قانون حماية حقوق استخدام الأراضي الدينية (RLUIPA)، الذي يوازن بين حق الدين وحقوق الملكية، وتواجه المحاكم المختلفة صعوبة في تفسير مصطلح "العبء الجوهري" بشكل موحد. المحامي الموكل بالقضية يرى أن القرار قد يغير قواعد تقسيم الأراضي في جميع الولايات المتحدة، مؤكدًا أهمية حماية الحقوق الدينية من التشدد الحكومي في تنظيم الأراضي. الحكم المرتقب قد يؤثر على العديد من المؤسسات الدينية في مختلف الولايات، مما يفتح بابًا لتحديد واضح لحماية ممارسة العقيدة على الممتلكات الخاصة.
October 2, 2026 at 1:01 AM
dustcircle.bsky.social
#RLUIPA Does Not Apply to #Addiction #TreatmentCenter Imposed as Alternative to #CriminalSentence

#BrysonvPage #Georgia #EstablishmentClause #freeexercise #RichmondCounty #CrystalPage #treatment #drugandalcohol #IvanBryson #Jewish #Christian #Penfield

religionclause.blogspot.com/2026/09/rlui...
RLUIPA Does Not Apply to Addiction Treatment Center Imposed as Alternative to Criminal Sentence
In Bryson v. Page , (SD GA, September 17, 2026), a Georgia federal district court dismissed RLUIPA, Establishment Clause and free exercise c...
religionclause.blogspot.com
September 21, 2026 at 1:29 AM
homotopic.bsky.social
I don't know about this specific case but part of what RLUIPA was responding to was pervasive discrimination of this kind in the application of zoning laws. Lots of RLUIPA cases about mosque construction, for example
September 11, 2026 at 7:55 PM
princetonyimby.bsky.social
I wonder how many land use hearings you are obligated to go to before you start your RLUIPA lawsuit?
September 10, 2026 at 7:04 PM