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.