Court finds religious discrimination after school officials scrutinized church’s biblical beliefs and denied long-term lease
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Advocates for Faith & Freedom
Nov. 13, 2026
BANGOR, Maine, Nov. 13, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Advocates for Faith & Freedom celebrates a significant victory for religious liberty after Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker ruled that the Hermon School Department violated the First Amendment and Maine law by denying The Pines Church and Pastor Matt Gioia a year-long lease for Sunday worship services at Hermon High School.
In a decisive 37-page ruling, Judge Walker found that a majority of the School Committee acted with discriminatory animus toward the Church’s religious identity and beliefs, violating the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment and Maine’s public accommodations law.
“This ruling affirms a fundamental principle: when public schools open their facilities to community groups such as sports teams, scouts, and recreation programs, they cannot exclude churches simply because of their faith,” said Bob Tyler, President of Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “The court saw through pretextual concerns about staffing, capacity, and logistics and correctly identified the real motive—hostility to the Church’s religious viewpoint. The Constitution demands neutrality, and today the court enforced it.”
The dispute began when The Pines Church, seeking a stable location for its growing congregation, requested a year-long lease of school facilities for Sunday services. Although the school routinely welcomed secular community organizations, the Church faced extraordinary scrutiny.
Committee Member Christopher McLaughlin questioned the Church’s positions on same-sex marriage, abortion, gender-affirming care, and other cultural issues. Despite warnings from the superintendent and the district’s own legal counsel that religious discrimination was unconstitutional, the Committee rejected the requested lease, offering only a month-to-month arrangement.
The court saw through the pretext. Judge Walker specifically found that Christopher McLaughlin, Stephanie Oiler, and Kristen Shorey acted with “bad motive,” that their stated practical concerns were pretextual and “threadbare,” and that the decision reflected discriminatory animus toward the Church as a religious organization. The judge characterized the month-to-month proposal as “an offer designed to be rejected.”
The court confirmed violations of the Church’s constitutional and statutory rights, awarded $1.00 in nominal damages, and determined that the plaintiffs are entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
“This is bigger than the Pines Church. It’s a victory for religious freedom, establishing an important precedent that public schools and facilities cannot discriminate against churches because of their religious identity or beliefs,” said Pastor Matt Gioia.
This victory also reflects the tireless dedication of the Advocates for Faith & Freedom legal team, including Bob Tyler, Erin Mersino, and former Advocates attorney Julianne Fleischer, who spearheaded the litigation. Fleischer has since gone on to the distinguished role of serving as an attorney with the United States Department of Justice.
Advocates for Faith & Freedom commends Pastor Gioia and The Pines Church for their perseverance. The ruling sends a clear message to public institutions nationwide: Religious organizations cannot be denied equal access to public facilities simply because of their faith.
Religious freedom is not a privilege granted by government officials. It is a constitutional right, and Advocates for Faith & Freedom will continue fighting to defend it.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CASE INFORMATION
About Advocates for Faith & Freedom (www.faith-freedom.com):
Advocates for Faith & Freedom safeguards the constitutional liberties that define the United States as a beacon of freedom and prosperity, including religious freedom, free speech, election integrity, parental rights, and the rights of children, both born and unborn.
SOURCE Advocates for Faith & Freedom
CONTACT: Nicole Velasco, MEDIA@FAITH-FREEDOM.COM