Supreme Court to review Kentucky church land use dispute

The Supreme Court has agreed to review a case involving a land use dispute between the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist Church and the city of Park Hills, Kentucky. The conflict centers on the church’s request to build a small grotto on its property—land it has occupied for nearly a century—to serve as a space for prayer and reflection.

While city officials initially endorsed the plan, they later rescinded their support following opposition from local neighbors. The legal battle escalated after the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld a decision denying the church the right to use its land for the proposed shrine.

Legal representatives from the First Liberty Institute argue that the denial potentially violates federal law regarding religious freedom and the rights of faith-based organizations to use their property to support their missions. The high court's review will determine if local zoning ordinances can legally restrict such religious activities on private property.