No-Church Zoning Law Challenged

"Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000...law prohibits zoning regulations that impose a substantial burden on religious exercise unless the government can show that there is a compelling interest in doing so and no less restrictive way to further that interest. Legal experts say the test is very difficult.Critics of the law say it is a federal intrusion into matters best left to local governments... Advocates of the law say it protects small and sometimes idiosyncratic churches that could otherwise find nowhere to gather. "

Thanks to Amy C. Verel