Colorado Church Takes County to Court

November 18, 2008

Author: DeeDee Correll

Source: The Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-church18-2008nov18,0,5054482.story

When the largest church in Boulder County, Colo., wanted to double its size two years ago, county commissioners said no.

Rocky Mountain Christian Church already dominated a rural corner of the county northwest of Denver. If it became any larger, commissioners said, it would destroy the area's country atmosphere.

But the church didn't accept the decision quietly. Using a relatively new federal law meant to protect religious organizations from discrimination by local governments, church officials charged Boulder County with hampering their ability to practice their religion.

The county responded by calling the law unconstitutional because it prevented communities from controlling their growth and planning.

This month, the conflict reached a federal courtroom in Denver, where a jury will begin deliberating the case today.

Although such cases have cropped up around the country since the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act was passed in 2000, legal experts say they rarely advance to the courtroom.