Plano, TX- Today, pastors and families of the bilingual church, Templo La Fe Worship Center, filed a lawsuit against the City of Balch Springs. The lawsuit comes after considerable time was allotted for the City to comply with the law. This is the second lawsuit filed against the City in a year regarding religious discrimination.
“It is unfortunate that the City of Balch Springs has yet to make the right decision. How many times does the City have to be punished for their religious discrimination before they understand it is against the law,” said Hiram Sasser, Director of Litigation with Liberty Legal Institute.
In 1997, Templo La Fe Worship Center purchased property in Balch Springs for the purpose of constructing a future church building. The Church paid approximately $33,000 for a new water line main to be installed with assurance from the City that they could construct the building. During meetings with City officials, the Church was told that they could construct the building on the property it purchased. Even the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the Church’s plan, but weeks later the City Council overruled the Commission’s decision to prevent construction of the Church building. A demand letter was sent March 24, 2004 to the City, but the discrimination against the Church continued.
“We will not sit idly by while a church is victimized. We will fight this as far as we have to win – for the sake of all churches,” said Kelly Shackelford, Chief Counsel with Liberty Legal Institute.