New Jersey in dispute with church group over Sunday beach access

[Ozlsn]

New Jersey is having a run in with a Christan group who have decreed no beach access before noon on Sunday.

I have questions. To quote the article:

New Jersey officials are in a stand-off with a local religious group that controls the resort town of Ocean Grove, which says thou shalt not go to the beach before noon on the Lord’s day.

Government officials say that is clear violation of the separation of church and state, and sent a warning to the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, a Methodist group that operates the beach just south of Asbury Park, earlier this month:

How do they "operate" the beach? Do they provide lifeguards, run a concession stand, what? Can they be sued for operational failure if someone is caught in a rip?  I find this whole concept really weird, firstly that anyone is "operating" a beach to start with, let alone blocking access because they disagree with your being there at that time for what look suspiciously like religious rather than safety reasons. Do they make money off this beach operation, and is it taxable? So many questions here, coming from a country where beach is public domain.

[47of74]

If this guy (both the character and actor) was still with us maybe he could help with the dispute.