Fox 10 News

about the Meditation Center

Fox 10 News on November 19, 2020

https://www.fox10tv.com/news/mobile_co
unty/appeals-court-reinstates-part-of-
lawsuit-over-controversial-proposal-to-
build-buddhist-meditation-center-
in/article_d3e6ebae-2aac-11eb-9d87-
4f56d0826f58.html
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A controversial
plan to build a Buddhist meditation center
in a residential neighborhood has new life
after a federal appeals court ruling this
week.
A federal judge in Mobile had ruled
against the Thai Meditation Association of
Alabama in a lawsuit challenging Mobile’s
decision to deny a zoning change to allow
the facility. But the Atlanta-based
11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has
sent part of the case back to Mobile with
instructions for the judge to consider the
issues under a different legal standard.
“We’re very grateful for the decision the
appeals court understanding the
important nature of the right to religious
freedom,” said Roman Storzer, an
attorney for the association.
Doug Anderson, an attorney representing
the city, focused on the issues the
defendants prevailed on.
“All the issues that were litigated in court, we
won,” he said. “We were certainly pleased
the trial part of the case was upheld on
appeal. We felt very strongly that that was
going to happen.”
At issue are three issues that U.S. District
Judge Terry Moorer threw out before the trial:
the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized
Persons Act; the First Amendment’s free
exercise clause; and and the Religious
Freedom Amendment to the Alabama
constitution.
The association, which currently operates
out of strip mall, had wanted to relocate to a
quieter location more conducive to its
mission. But its request for a zoning change
drew fierce opposition from area residents.
Many of them focused on concerns such as
increased traffic. But as the appeals court
ruling notes, some made comment publicly
about not wanting a Buddhist organization in
their neighborhood.
Anderson the case is on relatively new
ground. He said there is very little case law
on point, especially on the specific wording of
Alabama’s religious freedom amendment. He
said the case could ultimately set a
precedent for future disputes.