Green Bay Diocese asserts First Amendment right to operate homeless shelter despite (temporary) lack of City zoning approval

"I die the King's faithful Servant, but God's first."

True to the above ethic of St. Thomas More, and with temperatures set to drop below freezing tonight across the state of Wisconsin, the Diocese of Green Bay has opted to go ahead with its' plans to operate a homeless shelter at the former St. John the Evangelist Parish school building despite the lack of proper occupancy permits and other City approvals.

A report from the Green Bay Press-Gazette indicates the permit was not approved due to neighborhood objections, focusing around concerns regarding safety and public nuisances associated with the persons that the shelter would attract. Both the City of Green Bay and the Diocese continue to work toward a solution that will permit the shelter to operate within City Ordinances, but the Diocese was clearly undeterred from its mission even if forced to operate in formal violation in the interim.

The website links to the Archbishop's letter to the Mayor of Green Bay, as well as the press release from the Diocese. See the following forceful excerpt from Archbishop Dolan's letter to the Mayor of Green Bay:

"I also understand that, regrettably, the St. John facility did not receive the zoning variance for which it petitioned. We know and respect the diligence that you and others have demonstrated in trying to find common ground to serve the homeless. Our current action is being taken only because the homeless have no other place to turn. Further, I believe that our action is consistent with the First Amendment rights of the Catholic Church to fulfill its essential ministry, and am advised that there is judicial precedent to protect that (cf. Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church v. City of New York, U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 2002)."

Milwaukee's Archbishop Timothy Dolan approved the above action, acting as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Green Bay in the wake of the departure of Bishop Zubik.