Sex offenders cite religious objections law in suit

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Two registered sex offenders say in a lawsuit that they should be allowed to attend church services even when they are held on the same property as schools under Indiana’s new religious objections law.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on behalf of a sex offender who belongs to a Fort Wayne church and another who has attended an Elkhart church.

ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk says the state’s sex offender ban places a substantial burden on the men’s ability to worship that goes beyond what is allowed under the religious objections law that took effect Wednesday.

The lawsuit names the prosecutors and sheriffs of Allen and Elkhart counties as defendants. Messages seeking comment from each prosecutor’s office weren’t immediately returned.