Constitutional Law

Wis. churches use all-night prayer vigils to skirt zoning rules

By By The Associated Press

CUDAHY, Wis. — Some churches in the Milwaukee area are getting around roadblocks to setting up a homeless shelter by offering all-night prayer vigils.

St. Mark Lutheran Church in Cudahy is one of the congregations opening its doors at night to the homeless. Pastor Mark Thompson jokes that it wouldn?t be the first time people fell asleep in church.

A coalition of churches has been working on plans to open a homeless shelter, but the City of Cudahy has rejected the project, saying it?s inconsistent with its zoning code.

The Journal Sentinel says the churches plan to continue working on those plans, but in the meantime, they are holding the vigils to keep those without homes out of the dangerously cold weather.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on December 14, 2010 (boomark / email).