Pastor to defy city's order to evict homeless from church grounds

Los Angeles Times by Louis Sahagun | Jan. 22, 2007 (News Report)

Long Beach cleric says allowing people to sleep on the steps is a 'religious act.' Officials cite safety, sanitation concerns.

Inviting a confrontation with city officials, the senior pastor at a venerable Long Beach church vowed Friday to defy a prosecutor's order that he block homeless people from sleeping on the steps and grounds of his church.

Failure to disperse the 15 to 20 people who camp between the sidewalk and the First Congregational Church of Long Beach's walls may result in a fine of $1,000 a day, Deputy City Prosecutor Sayge Castillo warned in a recent letter. Full Story »

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4.5

by Joel Kulenkamp - Oct. 1, 2008

This is a very compelling story of the tug-of-war between the powers-that-be in LA--as well as complaining well-to-do citizens--and a crusading person of the cloth living up to the Gospel as he sees fit. This gives both sides of the conflict; the pastor's insistence to minister to the less fortunate in society, and complaints form legal authorities and some citizens. I was particularly impressed with the restaurant owner who saw both sides of issue; empathy with the homeless, while concern about driving his customers away.