St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  Religious leaders are teaming up to fight a proposed St. Louis measure pertaining to vending they claim would make it illegal to help the homeless.

On Thursday they gathered for a luncheon followed by a press conference at Transformation Christian Church in north St. Louis to discuss Board Bill 66. Reverend Larry Rice of the New Life Evangelistic Center has spearheaded this effort.

“There’s a war going on where the most vulnerable are being assaulted by people who have money. We all need to live together, work together, and come together and I feel that it’s unnecessary to introduce legislation that it will make it a criminal act to try and feed the hungry.” said Rice.

Pastor Wilbert Goatley of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church said we the city should be trying to help the homeless, not criminalize them.

“I hate the fact that the city wants to criminalize people who are down on their luck as we say or just having a hard time and I do think we as volunteers, religious leaders, faith leaders, we need to take it seriously.” said Goatley.

This measure sponsored by St. Louis Alderman Jack Coatar is still in committee. KTRS has contacted Coatar about this issue and is still awaiting comment.