First Liberty



We just received a tremendous victory for Pastor Jose Castro and
Gethsemani Baptist Church. City officials in San Luis, Arizona have
been trying to shut down their food distribution ministry, which
serves more than 200 families in the community.

Today, a federal district court ruled favorably for the Pastor and the
church. The court rejected the city's attempt to get the case
dismissed.

This is really good news for our clients. It means the case can move
forward. It gives First Liberty and our volunteer attorneys at Snell &
Wilmer the green light to continue fighting in court and put an end to
the city's religious hostility.

Churches shouldn't be threatened or fined for feeding the hungry
and caring for the most vulnerable. That betrays everything that
religious freedom in America is about. The First Amendment and federal
law protect the right of houses of worship to live out their
faith-which most certainly includes compassionate ministries
that help people in need.

What Pastor Jose and his congregation do is a labor of love.
Government should support-not punish-houses of worship
that do essential work for their communities.

"It's indefensible that a city would purposefully stop a
ministry that feeds the hungry. We hope to allow Gethsemani Baptist
Church to once again provide care for the vulnerable, hurting people
in the surrounding communities," said First Liberty Associate
Counsel Camille Varone.

Although we received a favorable outcome today, this legal battle
isn't over. We still have a lot of work to do to secure a
complete victory that restores the food ministry back to full
operation.

Pastor Jose and Gethsemani Baptist are counting on your support. With
your help, we can win this case. It would mean so much to the Pastor,
the congregants and the hundreds of families impacted by this
ministry. And by winning for this church, you're also going to
help protect religious freedom for every American, including YOU.

Please give to First Liberty today.



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First Liberty Institute