WKRG TV News about the

Meditation Center of Mobile

https://www.wkrg.com/mobile-
county/fight-over-meditation-
center-along-dog-river-remains-in-
federal-court/
by: Chad Petri
Posted: Feb 21, 2021
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — This past January
marked five years since a fight began over a
Buddhist Meditation Center in Mobile.
Organizers wanted to build the center at a
home on Dog River. They say it’s a case of
religious discrimination that’s still tied up in
federal court.
Five years ago we saw a meditation protest
at a meeting of the Mobile City Council. The
Planning and Zoning Commission had
denied an application to build the
meditation center on Dog River. That’s led to
a protracted battle in federal court.
“This place is very secluded, it’s going to be
a meeting place for 30 people and you’d
hardly think this would be a great impact on
the community,” lawyer for the Meditation
Center John Lawler. The plaintiffs argue they
just wanted to be treated the same as other
religious institutions in Mobile.
“Everyone has to be treated equally
almost at every meeting, why can’t they
be treated like any of these other
churches?” said Lawler. A spokesperson
for the city of Mobile confirmed the city
has spent more than $866,000 fighting
this case in federal court. The plaintiffs
claim this is a simple case of religious
discrimination.
“A proper resolution would be for the city
to tell us what we have to do that other
churches have done to get a permit,” said
Lawler. Opponents have argued this
meditation center would create traffic
issues, impact the neighborhood, and
wouldn’t fit the way the area is designed.
A spokesperson for the city reiterated that the
opposition to the Meditation Center is not a
religious objection but one based on planning
and zoning concerns. A conference call is
planned later in the week to determine the
next step in this case. This is a case we’ve
been following for a long time.
In April of 2016 the Department of Justice
sent a letter to the City of Mobile saying the
DOJ was looking at the city’s zoning practices.
After members of the Mobile City Council
voted to deny the zoning appeal, the city filed
an injunction against the Meditation Center
asking them to stop hosting retreats there in
2016.