TRI In The News

Southwest Virginia County Relents, Approves Permit for Interfaith Spiritual Center

From The Republic

Original article available here

INDEPENDENCE, Va. — Civil liberties lawyers representing a planned interfaith retreat in Grayson County say officials in the southwest Virginia community have reversed their opposition and granted a permit for the center.

The Rutherford Institute said Wednesday the action by the Grayson County Board of Supervisors is in response to a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by its attorneys.

Rutherford said the board approved the permit for The Oracle Institute on Tuesday.

Oracle says its spiritual retreat center is intended to promote interfaith beliefs.

The Rutherford Institute says more than a dozen local ministers and their parishioners initially spoke out against the center.

Grayson County officials did not immediately respond to an Associated Press call for comment.