L.A. church wins zoning battle

Pacific Justice Institute says the plight of a Los Angeles church is a good reason for Christians to demand their legal rights under the U.S. Constitution and federal law. 

St. Mary's Orthodox Church bought property in Chatsworth, a semi-rural area of Los Angeles, but ran into problems with the City of Los Angeles over zoning issues.

Brad Dacus, an attorney and president of PJI, says the zoning fight dragged on for almost six years before it was resolved in the church's favor.

The property was located between a Methodist church and an equestrian center.

"There was absolutely no logical reason why this church should have been prevented from occupying that facility and opening its doors," Dacus claims.

The worse part of the legal battle, he says, it that the church members had immigrated to the United States from India after facing persecution there.

"And that's why we have to stand up to defend every single church facing this kind of overt and clear discrimination and persecution here in the United States of America," Dacus says.