By requiring churches to obtain government approval before answering their religious calling, Rutherford Institute attorneys warn that Louisa County risks aligning itself with that troubling national trend. Rutherford Institute attorneys warn that requiring churches to obtain government permission before offering temporary shelter to those in need creates a chilling effect and could place unconstitutional roadblocks in the way of churches exercising their First Amendment rights. Last year, The Rutherford Institute wrote to the Louisa County Planning Commission, which approved the proposed ordinance and sent it to the Board of Supervisors. The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties organization, defends individuals whose constitutional rights have been threatened or violated and educates the public on a wide spectrum of issues affecting their freedoms. Case HistoryAugust 14, 2025 • Rutherford Institute Warns Against Ordinance That Could Bar Churches From Offering Cold-Weather Shelters to the Homeless