Christian Ministry to Homeless, Poor, and Elderly Continues Service on Public Property
HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Liberty Institute and Independence Law Center, on behalf of its client, Isaiah 61 Ministries – a well-established, non-profit Christian ministry serving the homeless, poor, and elderly population of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – announced that it has reached an agreement with the Dauphin County Commissioners that will permit the ministry to continue its efforts on public property.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120523/DC12743LOGO-b)
"The Dauphin County Commission did the right thing by recognizing the liberty of Isaiah 61 and other people of faith to exercise their faith in public by serving the poor, homeless, and elderly," said Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel at Liberty Institute. "Those who live out their faith in public by serving the poor, elderly, and homeless ought to be applauded by their government, not punished."
Randall Wenger, counsel for Independence Law Center said, "All too often, our leaders lose sight of our core liberties. It is good to see Dauphin County leaders provide more freedom to fix the problems around us, rather than exert more government control that would simply get in the way."
Every week, for over five years, staff and volunteers associated with Isaiah 61 Ministries have provided meals, toiletries, clothing, and other forms of assistance to the homeless men and women of Harrisburg, as well as to the poor and elderly. Because of threats made by the Dauphin County Commission late this past summer, Isaiah 61 Ministries, and several other ministries engaged in similar religious exercise throughout the rest of the week, had been unable to use public property to serve those most in need of help throughout the year.
Liberty Institute and Independence Law Center sent a demand letter to the Dauphin County Commission in November asking that these ministries be permitted to continue their humanitarian efforts and acts of Christian charity on public property. Isaiah 61 Ministries resumed their ministry outside the Dauphin County Courthouse on Christmas Eve and now have the support of the county to continue their service there at least twice-per-week.
Liberty Institute is a national nonprofit legal group dedicated to defending and restoring religious liberty across America — in our schools, for our churches 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.
SOURCE Liberty Institute
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article