Oracle Institute

I have been asked to comment on the decision Thursday night, July 8, 2010, of the Grayson County Board of Supervisors regarding my special use permit. First, let me state that the action of the Board on June 10 denying my permit for an inter-faith retreat center was made on the basis of my religious beliefs and philosophy and, therefore, in violation of the Constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Consequently, I felt obligated to consult with legal counsel concerning my rights and those of the other permit applicants.

Virginia law requires that an appeal of a Board decision for such a permit be filed with the Circuit Court within 30 days. The decision to file an appeal was made before the BOS meeting Thursday night. Following the advice my legal counsel, John Barry Donohue, Jr. of Richmond, Virginia and The Rutherford Institute of Charlottesville, Virginia, my appeal was filed Friday, July 9.

With respect to the Board’s action at the July 8 meeting, I would like to point out that under Virginia law I am entitled to resubmit my application within 1 year (at the most) from the date of its denial. Thus, the Board‘s action granted me nothing to which I was not already entitled. Furthermore, the Board should have approved the special use permit in the first instance and, given its discriminatory action on June 10, there is no assurance that the permit will be approved a year from now. As a result, I will pursue my legal remedies to achieve approval of the Oracle Retreat Center project and to obtain all other relief allowed under the law.