A township in the Upper Peninsula has settled a lawsuit with monks
over construction of a building next to where their local fruit
preserves are sold.
Eagle Harbor Township in Keweenaw County has agreed to
allow the building for fruit storage under Michigan's right-to-farm law.
The Society of St. John sued in federal court in 2009, claiming the
township had violated its rights as a religious group.
The township says the monks have operated the Jampot
under an exception to the local zoning ordinance.
Officials in 2008 had
turned down an expansion and questioned whether the property was only
for religious purposes.
The agreement filed last week also clarifies what
rights the monks have on their property.
The monks are affiliated with
the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
SIC: Bloomberg/USA