Church Loses Appeal of NYC School Worship Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court has again rejected an appeal from a small church in the Bronx that tried to overturn New York City's ban on after-hours religious worship services in public schools.

The Bronx Household of Faith held Sunday service at a public school for 12 years, until last summer, when the church completed its own building near the school.

The church said it still needs extra space for events that include religious services.

"The Department did not need to open its facilities for after-hours nongovernmental uses, but it did. Now it must abide by constitutional rules forbidding express discrimination against religious expression and practices in otherwise permissible uses," a brief from the church said.

The Supreme Court has rejected the church's appeal twice in litigation that has lasted 18 years.