"A Temple Versus Its Neighbors," Miami Herald

This front-page story by Jerry Berrios in Sunday's Miami Herald discusses numerous RLUIPA land-use cases, including several of the Becket Fund's.  The story includes this quote from Becket Fund Litigation Director Derek Gaubatz about the broader effects of RLUIPA:

He said the law is making the groups work out their differences.

''Unfortunately, in many cases zoning officials are used to having the run of their fiefdoms and persistently refuse to recognize that without a place to gather for assembly and worship, there can be no right to free exercise of religion,'' Gaubatz said.

Municipalities can impose reasonable conditions, he said.

''The law doesn't give [religious groups] the ability to do whatever they want.'' he said. ``It doesn't say religious institutions . . . don't have to follow zoning laws.''

Click here for the full story.

Relevant Cases

• Cottonwood Christian Center v. City of Cypress
• Hale O Kaula v. Maui Planning Commission
• Midrash Sephardi v. Town of Surfside
• Pine Hill Zendo Inc. v. Town of Bedford Zoning Board of Appeals