News Release
For Immediate Release: 12.18.25
Contact: John Manning, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Village Mayor in New York Axes Traditional Christmas Tree Fundraiser at St Patrick’s Catholic Church
The church’s fundraiser has been a long-standing tradition serving the community for more than 25 years.
The Branch, NY—First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the Village of The Branch, New York demanding that St. Patrick’s Catholic Church be allowed to continue its tradition of selling Christmas trees from the church property as they have for more than 25 years. The Village cited an ordinance stating the church cannot hold a fundraising event within 90 days of a previous one.
You can read the demand letter here.
“The Village of Branch, New York has dampened the Christmas spirit this year by abruptly halting the decades-old, well-loved Christmas tree fundraiser event by St. Patrick’s Catholic Church,” said Ryan Gardner, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “The Village has singled out the church for harassment and unequal treatment while allowing other organizations to conduct seasonal sales events.”
St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church has resided at its property in Branch, New York since 1966. For over 25 years, the Church has sold Christmas trees along with other plants, grave blankets, and wreathes during the Christmas season as a means of raising funds for the Church’s various ministries. In late November, Village officials threatened to issue citations against the Church if it did not obtain a Special Use Permit from the Village to sell the Christmas trees even though the Village had never previously required the Church to do so. Upon filing the requested application, Village officials informed the Church that the zoning ordinance prohibited the Church from engaging in multiple fundraising events on its property within 90 days of each event. Since the Church hosted a Family Festival event in October 2025, the Church was prohibited from selling Christmas trees despite having done so for many years.
In the letter, attorneys state, “the Village’s ordinances target the Church’s fundraising activities for disparate treatment because of the Church’s religious status—something the Supreme Court has repeatedly held to be ‘odious to our Constitution.’”
###
About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact John Manning at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
 |
|
|
