BROOKVILLE -- A quaint western Pennsylvania town and one of its churches are throwing the books at one another.

For Brookville, a town of 4,000 people, the book is the law. Solicitor Stephen French has taken the church to court for housing the homeless in a commercial district, which he says violates the borough's zoning regulations.

But the Rev. Jack Wisor, who heads the First Apostles Doctrine Church, says the book he follows -- the Bible -- requires him to help the needy.

So far, the borough -- which is about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh -- has prevailed. In August, a district judge fined Wisor $500 for allowing three homeless men to live in the 111-year-old church parsonage.

"I personally think the work he does is wonderful," French said of Wisor. "But we're not going to allow someone to violate the zoning laws because they do it in the name of Jesus Christ."

Wisor appealed to the Jefferson County Common Pleas Court. A hearing is scheduled for November.

"When we present the truth and all of the evidence is in order, we know that God is going to be victorious," the pastor told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We should be permitted to have missionaries, guests or anyone to stay in the parsonage under our rights of religious belief.

"Our concern is, what gives them the right to come in and tell you who you can and cannot keep in your home?" Wisor said.

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Information from: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, http://www.post-gazette.com



















BROOKVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- A quaint western Pennsylvania town and one of its churches are throwing the books at one another.

For Brookville, a town of 4,000 people, the book is the law. Solicitor Stephen French has taken the church to court for housing the homeless in a commercial district, which he says violates the borough's zoning regulations.

But the Rev. Jack Wisor, who heads the First Apostles Doctrine Church, says the book he follows -- the Bible -- requires him to help the needy.

So far, the borough -- which is about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh -- has prevailed. In August, a district judge fined Wisor $500 for allowing three homeless men to live in the 111-year-old church parsonage.

"I personally think the work he does is wonderful," French said of Wisor. "But we're not going to allow someone to violate the zoning laws because they do it in the name of Jesus Christ."

Wisor appealed to the Jefferson County Common Pleas Court. A hearing is scheduled for November.

"When we present the truth and all of the evidence is in order, we know that God is going to be victorious," the pastor told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We should be permitted to have missionaries, guests or anyone to stay in the parsonage under our rights of religious belief.

"Our concern is, what gives them the right to come in and tell you who you can and cannot keep in your home?" Wisor said.

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Information from: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, http://www.post-gazette.com

