This means the situation in Homestead and Surfside where the cities created religion-free zones will no longer be permissible. This section of the act will remedy the bizarre zoning restrictions in Oregon, where a church was allowed to exist under unreasonable restrictions. Moreover, the government will no longer be able to bully people into shutting down their Bible studies and home prayer meetings. Government officials should wake up and take notice of this new law because a new day has arrived. We have received calls from pastors all over the country concerned about starting a small church, or expanding their existing church.
Many churches begin with Bible studies and prayer meetings in private homes.
This new law will be a key to unlock the door which zoning officials have oftentimes shut on religious activity. In addition to the above application, the new law also applies to protect prisoners in the exercise of their religious practices. Sometimes prisoners have been told they can't read the Bible, and missionary groups have been prohibited from visiting prisoners to minister to them. In order to uphold any restriction on a prisoner's religious activity, the government must now muster a compelling interest of the highest magnitude to justify the restriction on religious activity. Even if the government can muster such an interest, the government must achieve the interest in the least restrictive means available.