On February 12, New York City is set to evict some 60 or more churches who rent public school facilities for their weekend services from the very facilities they have been renting for years.

This is an act aptly described by the New York Daily News as “a stupid and heartless decision.”

The Daily News says that the City is making this decision:

• “Despite the fact that the institutions, mostly small churches, have been using the schools for years — and are hurting no one.”
• “Despite the fact that they occupy the facilities under the same terms as secular groups.”
• “Despite the fact that religious organizations cannot under the Constitution be banned from using public spaces, including for prayer meetings — which has forced the city to hang its hat on a nonsensical, unenforceable ban only of worship services.”

I applaud the New York Daily News for taking a position in support of these churches. Now I only New York State’s elected officials would do the same. The City should leave these churches alone.