Liberty Institute Opposes HOA's RequestTo Shutdown Dallas Jewish Congregation's Religious Practice

PLANO, Texas, April 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Liberty Institute, on behalf of its client Congregation Toras Chaim, will encourage a district judge to deny a request from a homeowner's association for a temporary injunction that would effectively end community religious practice for 30 Orthodox Jewish families in North Dallas.

The public hearing on the lawsuit-- David R. Schneider, v. Judith D. Gothelf, Mark B. Gothelf and Congregation Toras Chaim, Inc., and Highlands of McKamy IV and V Community Improvement Association v. Judith D. Gothelf and Mark B. Gothelf—is scheduled for 9:00 AM CT in the 429th District Court of Collin County, 2100 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney. Following the hearing, a Liberty Institute attorney will be available for interviews.

"We are hopeful that the judge will not disrupt these families' access to their religious community and effectively ban their religious practices," said Justin Butterfield, Liberty Institute Senior Counsel. "This would be an egregious violation of their right to religious freedom."

In the case, Liberty Institute attorneys cite that, contrary to the purpose of a temporary injunction to preserve the status quo, granting a temporary injunction against Congregation Toras Chaim would shutdown worship and impede its members from continuing to carryout its activities in homes within the Highlands of McKamy as it has done for more than three years. This would violate the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act because it places a substantial burden on the congregation's religious practices.

Liberty Institute is a national nonprofit legal group dedicated to defending and restoring religious liberty across America — in our schools, for our churches, inside our military and throughout the public arena. Liberty's vision is to reestablish religious liberty in accordance with the principles of our Founding Fathers. For information, visit www.LibertyInstitute.org.

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SOURCE Liberty Institute