Michigan church files lawsuit over unwarranted police interruptions

A Michigan church has filed a federal lawsuit, claiming its rights have been violated after police entered the sanctuary on at least three occasions, claiming the church's music was too loud.The lawsuit was filed by Faith Baptist Church in Waterford Township. Jim Combs, the church's pastor, claims the police and the prosecutor violated the church's freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression. According to Brian Rooney of the Thomas More Law Center, which represents the church, police entered the church without a warrant during a youth service and also on two separate occasions during the regular worship service. Rooney says police action was prompted by a noise complaint from a local resident. However, he does not believe a noise complaint justifies police entering the services without a warrant and unannounced. "Whether there was or was not a noise complaint, that does not justify the police going into this church without a warrant. The church service schedules are published and known; they could have talked to Pastor Combs anytime before or after these services. They did not have to burst in there and essentially raid the church while the services were going on and disrupt good Christians' religious practices," Rooney contends. Rooney says the matter could have and should have been handled differently. "We're simply asking the court to ... stop the police and this prosecutor from ever interrupting their services again so that these Christians can worship the way that they've been doing since 1955 in the same location," he points out. The church, Rooney also notes, is not located in a quiet area but "on Airport Road right across from the airport." For now, Rooney says musicians can continue playing praise and worship music.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=73525

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