Posted on 10/21/2010 6:33:45 PM PDT by earlJam
No 'Christian' roommate for churchgoer Complaint filed with Fair Housing Center
Updated: Thursday, 21 Oct 2010, 5:51 PM EDT Published : Thursday, 21 Oct 2010, 5:51 PM EDT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The Fair Housing Center of West Michigan filed a housing discrimination charge against a Grand Rapids woman who advertised for a Christian roommate on her church bulletin board.
The 31-year-old woman's attorney, who works for the Alliance Defense Fund , said this is a blatant violation of her First Amendment right to freely associate.
But Nancy Haynes of the Fair Housing Center told 24 Hour News 8 the woman has every right to seek and live with a Christian roommate -- but advertising for it publicly, even on a church bulletin board, violates federal law.
"She can be a Christian and she can even use that as a criteria for who she wants to rent to. She just can't state that. Because to state that is a violation of the Fair Housing Act," she said. "There are certain exceptions that apply. She can actually, in practice, not rent to a non-Christian. But she can't make the statement. The statement alone is a violation of the act. What she can do in practice she can't make a statement about."
Haynes said the Fair Housing Center began investigating after someone in the congregation, who was offended, filed a complaint.
The center then filed a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights , and the action is administrative, not criminal. The center asks for a response to try and negotiate a settlement. If they can't, it's possible that the Michigan Department of Civil Rights would determine if a violation happened and perhaps recommend a hearing.
The Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter seeking dismissal of this complaint to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, but there has not yet been a response.
"I found (the woman and her attorney's) response very offensive. We're not punishing her for being Christian at all. If you're in the business of renting, it's a business transaction that's held to a standard under federal, state and local law."
The state wants the woman to get training in federal law, and reimburse the Fair Housing Center $300 for the time it took them to investigate.
So, does the gov go around checking church bulletin boards now?
Okay, does this make any sense? Someone in a Christian congregation was offended by this? And since when does an act trump the Constitution? It’s time to dump the bureaucrats.
I’m curious to know which church this was and which denomination they belong to. If it’s one of the lefty churches, it’s not surprising that a liberal spy would be in the congregation and rat her out to big brother.
Get the federal government out of the church
Wonder what the reaction would have been if she had asked for a Jewish or Muslim Roommate. Not like wanting a Christian roommate I’d wager.
Surprise, surprise.
Good luck! Back in my day in Madison, WI - someone advertising for a roommate/someone to share a house with ran into the same claim. They ended up being forced into a re-education/sensitivity training process as an alternative to fines or jail time. Oy!
Oh good grief!
I am sorry. The idea that someone cannot discriminate in choosing a roommate is absurd. She was not trying to find a tenant for rental property. A government that interferes with someone choosing a roommate has gone too far.
Discrimination against whom? So if a Muslim comes to the door, she has to take he/she on as a roomate in order to not discriminate?? Ridiculous!!
Maybe someone should check the local mosque’s bulletin board and make sure no one is advertising for a muslim roommate.
This crap infuriates me. What has happened to OUR rights???? And someone in the congregation complained? Maybe they’re in the wrong building.
The Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter seeking dismissal of this complaint to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, but there has not yet been a response.
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I’m not familiar with this agency. It sounds like a Civil Rights group. I should thing the even ACLU would freak out at this gross violation of this woman’s rights.
What part of the Constitution gives the federal gooberment the power to regulate intra-state rentals? Seems like a state's issue, if any government should be involved. And it shouldn't. Not even if she advertised for a brand new block of 100 apartments (No Irish Need Apply). Not the business of the state.
/johnny
Must be an Episcopalian or Methodist church...they would be offended.
Nancy Hanes needs to be put in charge of housing enforcement against the Muslim community - let's see how loudly she brays her totalitarian crap to them. Check the community ads at any mosques lately, Nancy? How's that balance of fair enforcement across religious lines going, you vicious liberal hag?
The story stated that someone in her own church turned her in.
Makes me wonder what kind of church would turn in a fellow congregant for asking for a Christian roommate.
Right. Big Brother is watching our church bulletin boards! Disgusting.
Would it be discrimination if she wanted a female only roommate?? Non-smoking roommate??
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