Cases | Independence Law Center

Case Page: Northmoreland Baptist Church v. Wyoming County Board of Assessment Appeals and Revision of Taxes

A property tax exemption is not so much a special favor for churches as a way to protect the independence of religious institutions. When the government has the power to tax, it has the power to control. In Wyoming County, the Independence Law Center, with assistance from attorney Lindsey Hoban of Ballard Spahr, obtained an important court victory on behalf of a small church in rural Northeastern…

Case Page: Southcentral PA Teenager is Protected from a Forced Abortion

Attorney Randall Wenger was given the unique opportunity of helping a teenaged minor save her baby. She was being pressured by her mother to have an abortion. However, Pennsylvania law makes clear that it is illegal to coerce a minor to have an abortion. Independence Law Center sought and won an emergency injunction to prevent the abortion the day before the teenager was scheduled to go to the abortion…

Case Page: Victory for King’s Men—Men’s Group Sued for Standing Against Pornography

Members of The King's Men (thekingsmen.org) are a presence outside of some adult bookstores and strip clubs in Southeastern Pennsylvania, holding signs and encouraging men to stop frequenting such establishments. In attempting to rid them of this presence, one business sued the organization. Once in court, the adult business agreed to dismiss their lawsuit and allow The King's Men to continue to protest,…

Case Page: Win for Church’s Homeless Ministry

A Methodist Church in suburban Philadelphia took seriously the scriptural call to help the poor. They opened a homeless ministry to allow persons facing homelessness to stay at the church free of charge and to receive counseling while they got back on their feet financially. The Township zoning officer took a different view of the ministry and ordered them to stop, claiming that such a ministry was…

Case Page: Churches “Violate” Zoning by Meeting in Theater

Two churches have been in contact with the Independence Law Center after they were told they were violating zoning by meeting in a theater. One of the churches, meeting in a theater in Montgomery County, was told that they were in violation because “religious uses” were not permitted in a “shopping” zone. The Independence Law Center contacted the Township solicitor, explaining that the ordinance…