PA Town Threatens Churches With $500 Fines for Providing Free Meals, Counseling Services

[Kamaji]

Pennsylvania Town Threatens Churches With $500 Fines for Providing Free Meals, Counseling Services

Borough officials in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, told Mission First and Christ Episcopal churches that their charitable work goes beyond what the zoning code allows for downtown churches.

CHRISTIAN BRITSCHGI
7.7.2022

Two Philadelphia-area churches have come under fire from local zoning officials, who say their free meal services, mental health counseling, and monthly pantries aren't allowed on their properties and will have to stop or else they risk fines.

In early June, Pottstown staff sent letters to Christ Episcopal Church and Mission First, saying that this charitable work went beyond the allowable activities for churches in the borough's Downtown zoning district.

"I am writing this letter with compassion for those affected by the COVID pandemic and with gratitude to residents who've provided aid to those in need throughout that period," wrote Pottstown Zoning Officer Winter Stokes in a letter to one of the churches obtained by WHYY, which first reported the story. "However, as the Zoning Officer, I must enforce the zoning code."

Stokes' letters specifically lists regular provision of mental health counseling to families, weekly buffet meals, and the distribution of soap, razors, toothbrushes, and other essential items as disallowed uses.

The two churches can either apply for a zoning variance—which requires going before the borough's Zoning Hearing Board—or stop the disallowed charitable work. Failure to do either of those things could result in the churches being hit with $500 fines for every day they're out of compliance.

"It was an absolute surprise when we got this letter," says Dennis Coleman, the deacon of Christ Episcopal Church. He says that his church has been providing meals and an "essentials" pantry for years without incident.

"We've been doing the one meal a week for as long as anyone can remember," which typically feeds about 60 people, Coleman says. The church also runs a "Last Week of the Month" program that provides people with food, essential items, or even assistance in paying gas and electric bills.

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Source:  https://reason.com/2022/07/07/pennsylvania-town-threatens-churches-with-500-fines-for-providing-free-meals-counseling-services/

[Hoodat]

Let me guess.  Democrats?

[PeteS in CA]

Let me guess.  Democrats?

Named "Karen" and "Kyle".

[GtHawk]

First code enforcement then next it's, what you're serving buffet meals, do you have a permit, no? Health inspection and case and desist order.

[Smokin Joe]

Matt 25:40-43

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Kinda fits with my opinion of some code enforcement people anyway.

[sneakypete]

I just don't see how they can get away with this unless they can show legimitate "cause"
that actual crimes are being committed.

[Hoodat]

I just don't see how they can get away with this unless they can show legimitate "cause"
that actual crimes are being committed.

Clearly, you don't understand how 'fascism' works.

[mountaineer]

Too close to Philly. Apart from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a fairly conservative and freedom-loving state.

[sneakypete]

Clearly, you don't understand how 'fascism' works.

@Hoodat

Well,I clearly don't understand how fascism is related to this news release.

Who are the fascists,the towns people or the churches?

Or is it both?

[Hoodat]

Typically, the fascists are the ones doing the fining and jailing.

[PeteS in CA]

Proper food handling isn't trivial, but it isn't rocket science. The churches were probably doing that part OK, as they were hit with zoning ordinances rather than health code violations:

"I am writing this letter with compassion for those affected by the COVID pandemic and with gratitude to residents who've provided aid to those in need throughout that period," wrote Pottstown Zoning Officer Winter Stokes in a letter to one of the churches obtained by WHYY, which first reported the story. "However, as the Zoning Officer, I must enforce the zoning code."

Stokes' letters specifically lists regular provision of mental health counseling to families, weekly buffet meals, and the distribution of soap, razors, toothbrushes, and other essential items as disallowed uses.

While on the surface it might seem that this is a valid angle of attack, the churches' response could be that the zoning ordinance violates the Federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which prevents zoning and other ordinances from impinging on or burdening churches' Free Exercise rights. The churches would, of course, have to prevent excessive traffic congestion.

[catfish1957]

Prior to the welfare state being first imposed in the '60', for 100's of years churches WERE the safety net for meals and counseling.

The irony is incredible.

[sneakypete]

Prior to the welfare state being first imposed in the '60', for 100's of years churches WERE the safety net for meals and counseling.

The irony is incredible.

@catfish1957

Let's not forget the alleged "Salvation Army". They may be buttholes who CHARGE you for your meals by forcing you to pray for them,but they still provide people with warm meals and sometimes a safe place to sleep for a night or two.

Might not sound like much for the price you pay in pride,but it's "something" if you have nothing.