Reverend Wins Right To Build Church In Cassadaga
Volusia County Spiritual Community Concerned About Traffic
POSTED: 10:57 a.m. EDT September 20, 2002
UPDATED: 11:33 a.m. EDT September 20, 2002
Both sides said it was never about religion, but it was a lawsuit over religious freedom that finally won a church the right to build in the heart of Cassadaga's spiritual community.
Cassadaga is 30 miles north of Orlando in Volusia County.
The Rev. John Ferro sued the county after the zoning board denied him a permit to build. The evangelist preacher said he was called to build a church in Cassadaga, which is a community of mediums and psychic healers.
The zoning board turned Ferro down, citing objections from residents, but in the face of a federal lawsuit, the county has agreed to let him build.
"We just believe the Lord said we were gonna be here, and we were moving on what he said to us," Ferro said.
The residents of Cassadaga said they did not object to the church out of fear the reverend would push Christianity on them. Rather, they were concerned about traffic and rumors that he planned a drug rehabilitation center as well.
To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Amanda Ober.
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Cassadaga is 30 miles north of Orlando in Volusia County.
The Rev. John Ferro sued the county after the zoning board denied him a permit to build. The evangelist preacher said he was called to build a church in Cassadaga, which is a community of mediums and psychic healers.
The zoning board turned Ferro down, citing objections from residents, but in the face of a federal lawsuit, the county has agreed to let him build.
"We just believe the Lord said we were gonna be here, and we were moving on what he said to us," Ferro said.
The residents of Cassadaga said they did not object to the church out of fear the reverend would push Christianity on them. Rather, they were concerned about traffic and rumors that he planned a drug rehabilitation center as well.
To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Amanda Ober.
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