Oct 10
23
Michigan anti-discrimination policy terrorizes Christian
CitizenLink – October 22, 2010
Michigan Woman Charged with Discrimination For Seeking A Christian Roommate
By Catherine Snow
The era of “anti-discrimination” political correctness is spinning out of control in Michigan. Michigan’s Department of Civil Rights is moving ahead with a complaint it received against a woman for posting the statement, “I am looking for a Christian roommate,” on her church bulletin board. According to the agency, she violated Fair Housing laws by “engaging in discriminatory advertising…due to religious beliefs.” If found guilty, the young woman may have to pay a civil fine, as well as be forced to attend “sensitivity training,” so that she will not “discriminate in the future.”
Harold Core, the state’s Civil Rights spokesman, defended the action and said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s codes were clear: One cannot “…make, print or publish or cause to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference” based on religious beliefs.
Joel Oster, lead counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund – and representing the Christian woman – said that the government’s actions blatantly violated her First Amendment rights to freedom of association and asked that the complaint be immediately dismissed. “She is not prohibited by either federal law or state law from seeking a Christian roommate,” Oster said. “Neither Title VIII of the U.S. Fair Housing (Act), (the) Civil Rights Act of 1968 nor the Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act No. 453 prevents a woman like (her)] from seeking a Christian roommate.”
The person who filed the complaint – whose identity is also being protected by the state – apparently turned over the information to the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan (FHCWM), a nonprofit “fair housing” organization, which took the matter to the state housing authorities. According to FHCWM’s website, it trains people to “play the role of a home seeker – a person who is looking for a housing unit in which to live” – and teaches these “Testers” to file complaints of discrimination.
“Christians shouldn’t live in fear of being punished by the government for being Christians,” Oster said. “Not content to just lock Christians and their beliefs into the four walls of their church or home, some groups also want to invade those walls and force their own ideas upon them by force of law. “This should be frightening to every single person, no matter what faith you are or what your politics are,” Oster added. “My goodness, the government is coming into your house and telling you who you can seek out as a roommate. What is next?”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the Michigan Civil Rights letter.
Read the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan’s directions for filing a discrimination complaint.
Learn more about ADF.
Read online and click live links here.