Los Angeles, Calif., Jan 18, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Anonymous plaintiffs dropped their December 2004 lawsuit, which sought to stop the federal government from funding the preservation of California’s historic Spanish missions.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State represented the anonymous plaintiffs. It said the suit, filed to block $10 million authorized by Congress to restore and preserve the historic California missions, was withdrawn because Congress had failed to budget any funds under the California Missions Preservation Act.
The case was withdrawn Jan. 17 but it had been scheduled to appear before a judge today.
The plaintiffs had argued that since some of the historic Spanish missions still conduct church services, none of the missions—among them the oldest buildings in California—should be preserved using federal government funds.