No. 25-1131October Term 2025Petition Pending
Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist, Inc., Petitioner v. Joel Frederic, et ux.
Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist asks the Supreme Court to review a Kentucky land-use dispute involving its effort to build a religious structure on its property.
Case status
- Current stage
- Petition Pending
- Latest event
- Petition pending
- Decision timing
- No decision timeline until the Court agrees to hear the case.
- What it's about
Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist asks the Supreme Court to review a Kentucky land-use dispute involving its effort to build a religious structure on its property. The petition argues that the restrictions violate the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by substantially burdening religious exercise and by treating religious institutions less favorably than comparable nonreligious institutions.
Question presented
1. Whether denying Petitioner’s variance violates RLUIPA’s substantial-burden provision, when the zoning board wasn’t authorized to grant the variance, Petitioner failed to show it lacked alternative locations to build the grotto, and Petitioner acquired the parcel knowing a grotto wasn’t allowed there? 2. Whether the zoning ordinance’s arterial-street requirement violates RLUIPA’s equal-terms provision, when it applies equally to religious entities and similarly situated nonreligious entities?
- Case path
Supreme Court of Kentucky / Petition pending
- Area
First Amendment
Briefing
What it's about
Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist is asking the Supreme Court to review a Kentucky zoning dispute over its plan to build a religious structure on its property. It argues that the restrictions violate RLUIPA, a federal law protecting religious land use.
Argument
The petition for certiorari (the Court's decision to hear a case) has been filed, and oral argument has not been scheduled. The petition argues that the zoning restrictions substantially burden religious exercise and impose limits not applied to comparable nonreligious institutions.
Impact
The case could affect religious groups seeking permits for buildings such as chapels, grottos, or meeting spaces. It could also affect how local zoning boards apply rules to religious and comparable nonreligious institutions.
What is at stake in Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist v. Frederic?
The case concerns whether zoning rules unlawfully prevented a religious group from building a religious structure on its own property.
Who could be affected by this zoning dispute?
Religious institutions seeking construction permits could be affected, as could local governments enforcing land-use rules for religious and nonreligious groups.
What happens next in Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist v. Frederic?
The Court may schedule further action or decide whether to hear the case. Oral argument has not yet been scheduled.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology