Church files federal complaint against US county for violating religious freedom rights

A Christian church has filed a federal complaint against a county in California because its zoning ordinances prohibit the church from expanding its property.

Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship, also known as "Calvary Wine Country", is located in a region in California referred to as the Temecula Wine Country. The church has filed a federal lawsuit against Riverside county, citing the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person's Act of 2000.

According to Christian News Wire, the county's zoning ordinances have prevented the church from expanding its property.

Calvary Chapel Bible Fellowship was first allowed to establish a church on the 17,900 acre Wine Country region in 1996. However, soon after the church was built and established, Riverside banned churches from being built within the region.

Calvary Wine Country, which has been classified as 'non-conforming', is not allowed to expand its church property to its adjacent lot of 28 acres.

While churches and religious properties are not allowed to be built within the region, other establishments such as wineries, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other commercial spaces are permitted construction.

"It's a tragedy to see our religious liberty eroded in this country where men and women have fought and died to protect our liberty," Calvary's pastor, Clark Van Wick, said. "It's un-American to see churches outlawed like we're seeing here in the neighborhood I've lived in for 27 years."

Legal counsel of Calvary Wine Country, Robert Tyler, said the church has long desired to become a good neighbor to other wineries in the region, and to provide a place of worship for its residents, however, its rights have been compromised because of the zoning ordinances at Riverside county.