Proposed O'Hare Airport Expansion Faces Legal Battle

By Carol Kennedy

Published on September 19, 2005

Advocates are preparing to file a stay in federal court to halt the expansion of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and preserve a historic landmark.

Characterizing the matter to be of a religious nature, The Illinois Conference of Churches sent multiple letters to congressional delegates expressing concern over the destruction of the historic St. Johannes Cemetery. The letter also questioned the FAA's ability to use its authority to intervene in abuses on religious freedom. In the letter, Rev. David Anderson, executive director of Illinois Conference of Churches, made reference to a law that was approved by the Illinois legislature making the cemetery exempt from the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The airport expansion would require bulldozing St. Johannes Cemetery, demolishing over 500 homes and displacing some 2600 residents and 200 businesses. The goal of the expansion is to relieve the congestion that has plagued the airport for many years.

The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to rule on the proposal sometime this month.

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