This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

'It's a crucial component of their ministry's outreach to those who might never step foot in a conventional church'

Los Angeles County has decided to ban meetings of Church on the Beach, a Christian group that for years has obtained a permit to meet on the county's public beach for worship.

And the American Center for Law and Justice is challenging the decision.

The legal team has sent a detailed demand letter to officials there, outlining the constitutional violations of singling out one organization because of its viewpoint and discriminating against members.

"Our letter made it clear that the county's actions violate well-established First Amendment principles as articulated by the Supreme Court in cases like Widmar v. Vincent and Lamb's Chapel. We've given the County until March 20, 2025, to provide assurances that this discriminatory policy will be ended and that churches will be free to use the beach under the same generally applicable rules as nonreligious gatherings," the legal team explained in an online report.

The church for 18 years has been serving its community faithfully by holding services on Redondo Beach, with proper permits from the county.

"Approximately 120 people gather every Sunday morning to worship in God's creation, with many attendees specifically choosing this setting because they have had difficult or negative experiences in traditional church buildings. The beach location isn't merely a preference – it's a crucial component of their ministry's outreach to those who might never step foot in a conventional church," the ACLJ reported.

Members have made sure their gatherings don't obstruct pathways, block traffic or cause any other disruption. They've even relocated when other events are scheduled.

But then just months ago the county changed its practices to target the church, telling the pastor the Department of Beaches and Harbors would no longer issue yearly permits for religious activities.

The county announced "grandfathered" groups would be allowed only six events per year, with $250 permit fees required for four.

It also is restricting the meetings to specific locations.

"The key fact: None of these rules apply to nonreligious groups. Even more concerning, a county official told the pastor that churches 'don't need the beach' because they can 'meet in a building' – a statement that demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of both religious freedom and the specific ministry of Church on the Beach," the ACLJ reported.

The report called the county's agenda a "textbook case of religious discrimination," as "Public beaches, like parks, are traditional public forums where the government cannot restrict speech based on its content without meeting the highest legal standard of strict scrutiny."

The ACLJ explained, "As the Supreme Court also stated in Perry Educ. Ass'n v. Perry Local Educators' Ass'n, streets and parks 'have immemorially been held in trust for the use of the public and, time out of mind, have been used for purposes of assembly, communicating thoughts between citizens, and discussing public questions. . . . In these quintessential public forums, the government may not prohibit all communicative activity.' A public beach is a type of public park and subject to the same rules; religious viewpoints cannot be targeted for discrimination."