Wiccan Ministers Plan to Proceed with Lawsuit

Florida Today Staff Writers
The following was typed in by Baird Stafford. We of Iron Oak are deeply indebted to Baird for his effort. Thanks, Baird!
The following is an article which appeared on page 2B of the issue of Florida Today for 6 December 1994. Copyright Florida Today. It is posted here without the permission of Florida Today.
Two pagan ministers will proceed with their federal civil rights lawsuit against Palm Bay unless they are reimbursed for expenses incurred during a recent zoning hearing.

Jacque Zaleski and Roger Coleman of the Wiccan Church of the Iron Oak said Monday they had retained lawyer Burton Green to try and reach a settlement with city officials for about $20,000 in legal bills.

If the negotiations are unsuccessful, they plan to sue. City Manager Mike Abels said he had not been contacted by Green but would review any offer received by his office.

The federal lawsuit was filed in October after Zaleski and Coleman were cited by zoning inspectors for illegally operating a church at their northeast Palm Bay home.

The lawsuit alleges the couple's First Amendment rights were violated because the ordinance was selectively enforced against them and not against more conventional Christian churches.

Zaleski and Coleman won their zoning battle Nov. 21 when the Code Enforcement Board unanimously ruled the activities at their residence did not meet the legal definition of operating a church.