Anonymous Blogger Sues Police Over Church Investigation

Florida police and state prosecutors have been sued for allegedly revealing the identity of an anonymous blogger to his church. According to the Associated Baptist Press, the blogger “started his blog after noticing differences in preaching style, fundraising and church administration” between his current pastor and the previous pastor.

The purpose of the blog was to address these issues without the discussion getting person, since no one was aware of the blogger’s identity.

The lawsuit alleges that the church, upset at the blog’s contents, asked police to investigate. After investigation, police revealed the identity of the blogger to church officials, who subsequently banned the man from the church.

The lawsuit alleges the investigation and subsequent denial of access to the church violated the man’s First Amendment Rights to Free Speech and Free Exercise of Religion and the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. The suit claims that police “acting under color of state law, spent taxpayer money and government time prosecuting an errand of the church and in so doing acted as an extension and enforcer for a particular religious entity.”

The lawsuit is seeking $15,000 in damages.

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