SALT LAKE CITY —; Upon learning of today's decision by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to deny its petition for rehearing of the Court's ruling regarding the new Church Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints immediately issued the following statement:
The 10th Circuit Court's decision was not unexpected, given its previous ruling. The way is now clear for the Church to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the matter.
Like all U.S. citizens, we highly value the freedom of expression which the United States Constitution guarantees. However, we also point out that the very first freedom mentioned in the Constitution is religious freedom. The Constitution also guarantees property owners, including churches, the right to the full enjoyment of their property.
These rights —; free exercise of religion, property rights and free speech —; are all involved in the current controversy surrounding the new Church Plaza. In the Church's view, the 10th Circuit's decision fails to adequately address these rights, focusing as it does on only one of them —; speech. All Americans have an interest in a more balanced, comprehensive application of the law. We hope that the United States Supreme Court will agree.