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“Unnecessary Noise” Charge Against Evangelist Dismissed

2/19/2019

Kennewick, WA--A Benton County District Judge dismissed the criminal charge against a public evangelist who regularly preaches outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic. The judge held that the City of Kennewick’s noise ordinance unconstitutionally restrains speech that “annoys” the comfort, repose, health or safety of the public.

Eric Schonbachler travels to various communities to preach to the public. He regularly preaches in Kennewick, Washington, on the public street outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic. He posts a sign with a picture of a baby, offers religious tracts, and delivers religious speeches without any amplification.

Reversed! Superintendent Allows Christian Club After PJI Steps In

2/6/2019

Cupertino, CA--Students at Homestead High School stood up for their rights to have their Christian athletes club on campus, and the school district agreed. Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) advocated for their Christian club to be recognized among the many other student clubs permitted to meet on school property.

Jocelyn, a sophomore with a heart to express her faith and positively impact her school, attended a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) leadership conference last summer and felt compelled to start an FCA club with her classmates. She and four fellow students submitted a video to the Associated Student Body (ASB), introducing their club and why they should be accepted as an official club. Their club’s purpose is to mirror their passion for sports with a passion for Christ. ASB organizes a variety of clubs that cover topics from science to chess, as well as the Muslim Student Association and the Gender-Sexuality Alliance.

PJI Files Suit to Vindicate Former Inmate’s Religious Rights

1/29/2019

Salem, OR--Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) filed suit in federal district court against private and government parties who denied a Christian prison inmate his rightfully-earned freedom due to his faith.

Timothy Krueger, a former drug addict, entered Oregon’s prison system in January 2017 after pleading guilty to driving with a revoked license. He was sentenced to two years, but based on time served and the possibility of a reduction in time due to good behavior, Krueger had an expected release date of July 20, 2018.

Join PJI at the State Capitol to Protest California’s Health Education Framework for Public Schools

1/24/2019

Sacramento, CA--Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) will attend a public rally at the State Capitol on Friday, January 25, to protest the Health Education Framework for California Public Schools. PJI Chief Counsel, Kevin Snider, will address the Framework’s concerning aspects that deprive parents of their rights to protect their children.

PJI Sues City for Labeling Church Too “Blighted” for Zoning “Vibrancy Plan”

1/22/2019

Salinas, CA--Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) filed a lawsuit in federal court this past week on behalf of New Harvest Christian Fellowship against the City of Salinas. The Complaint states that the City’s refusal to allow the Church to move into their new building violates federal law under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

New Harvest Christian Fellowship is under the leadership of Pastor Ignacio Torres. The Church, located on Main Street in Old Town Salinas for 22 years, seeks to spread the Gospel in the community, plant churches, and support international missionary work. In March 2018 the church—prompted by the growth of their congregation—purchased a larger building directly across the street which would accommodate their worship services and children’s programs concurrently.

PJI Letter to State Board of Education

1/10/2019

PJI Letter to State Board of Education
File Size:	262 kb
File Type:	pdf

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PJI Helps Convince City to Bring Back Nativity Scene

12/26/2018

Gig Harbor, WA--This Christmas season Gig Harbor reincorporated a nativity scene display in Skansie Brothers Park after Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) provided legal clarity and offered pro bono support in response to the threats the City received from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF).

For roughly a decade, the traditional Christmas display, provided by John Skansi and Councilman Jim Franich who together head up the local “Sons of Thunder” group, included a City-approved nativity scene next to a Christmas tree and other secular symbols of the Christmas season in the public park. However, in November 2016 the City received a letter from the FFRF threatening to sue Gig Harbor for the “unconstitutional” nativity scene. The FFRF, a Wisconsin-based atheist organization known for castigating people of faith and filing suits that are routinely thrown out of court, pressured the City Council to censor all religious content from the display.

Christmas Comes Early for Churches as Court Strikes Down Restrictive Ordinance

12/17/2018

Green Bay, WI--A Judge in Green Bay, Wisconsin, ruled last Friday that a city’s non-discrimination ordinance cannot be applied to churches or other religious organizations. The City of De Pere’s ordinance labeled religious organizations as “places of public accommodation” subject to non-discrimination policies dictated by the government.

The City’s ordinance, passed just before Thanksgiving of last year, addressed non-discrimination of gender identity and sexual orientation in housing, employment, advertising, and public accommodations—without an exemption for religious organizations. Before the ordinance took effect in March 2018, Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) swiftly took action and filed a complaint.

PJI Joins Defense of Christian Company Owner in Bible Study Case

11/19/2018

Salem, OR--The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) has joined in the defense of a Christian construction company’s owner in a case that has generated national attention.

Joel Dahl is the owner and sole officer of Dahled Up Construction, a corporation headquartered in Albany, Oregon. A former prison inmate who turned his life around after embracing Christianity, Dahl operates his company in accordance with Christian principles—his company’s logo, in fact, even has a cross where the second “t” in “construction” would be. Many of the people he employs are former inmates like him whose job prospects are limited due to their criminal histories.

California Professor Vindicated After Termination for “Dangerous” Conservative Views

11/8/2018

Riverside, CA--After days of intense arbitration, the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) secured a legal victory this past month for a sociology professor fired for his discussions of conservative world-views in his college classroom. PJI represented Professor Eric Thompson and battled in depositions, administrative hearings, and a multi-day arbitration conducted like a trial. The arbitrator, who found many of Moreno Valley College’s claims against the tenured professor were unfounded, ruled in Thompson’s favor.

Thompson, who had taught at Moreno Valley College since 2005 and twice been named “Faculty of the Year,” encouraged discussions in his sociology courses regarding topics like marriage, gender roles, and sexual orientation. He introduced conservative views to his students to challenge them to defend their assumptions and positions. He also circulated the film Understanding Same-Sex Attraction which suggests homosexual feelings may be due to environmental factors rather than genetically pre-determined.

<<Previous

“Unnecessary Noise” Charge Against Evangelist Dismissed

Reversed! Superintendent Allows Christian Club After PJI Steps In

PJI Files Suit to Vindicate Former Inmate’s Religious Rights

Join PJI at the State Capitol to Protest California’s Health Education Framework for Public Schools

PJI Sues City for Labeling Church Too “Blighted” for Zoning “Vibrancy Plan”

PJI Letter to State Board of Education

PJI Helps Convince City to Bring Back Nativity Scene

Christmas Comes Early for Churches as Court Strikes Down Restrictive Ordinance

PJI Joins Defense of Christian Company Owner in Bible Study Case

California Professor Vindicated After Termination for “Dangerous” Conservative Views

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