We’ve seen it on college campuses and now we’re seeing it crop in cities all around the country. It’s these ridiculous non-discrimination ordinances passed by city councils that will force religious organizations and churches, among other entities, to hire gays and lesbians. It could even open them up to discrimination lawsuits if they preach against homosexuality or transgenderism.
De Pere, Wisconsin, passed such an ordinance last year and didn’t exempt churches from it. The law went into effect this year and several churches filed suit.
Fortunately a Wisconsin judge ruled the law could not be applied to churches:
CBN NEWS – A Wisconsin judge has ruled that a De Pere city non-discrimination ordinance cannot be applied to churches and other faith-based groups.
The ordinance, which was approved last year by the city council, labeled religious organizations as places of public accommodation. That means churches would have been in danger of discriminating against transgender and gay individuals if they preached that God determines gender and prohibits homosexuality.
Alarmed by the decree, five churches and a faith-based radio station filed a lawsuit seeking an exemption, noting that the ordinance is so broad that it undermines their constitutionally protected right to freely exercise their faith.
What the churches argued:
“Unlike many of its counterparts in other state, local and federal law, the De Pere ordinance does not clearly exempt religious organizations. Nor has the city been willing to assure religious institutions that they will not be subjected to the ordinance when it takes effect March 1, 2018,” the 21-page suit reads.
“As a result, the ordinance is likely to be imposed on churches and other religious organizations in a manner that would mandate government orthodoxy in core religious functions, communication, and conduct,” the lawsuit states.
What the city argued:
The city pushed back, saying the churches had failed to produce any specific example of how they’re harmed by the ordinance.
What the judge decided:
Nevertheless, Brown County Judge William Atkinson sided with the churches in his ruling Friday.
“Court finds that churches and their campuses are not public accommodations and the city of De Pere’s ordinance infringes on the freedom of religion. Court grants plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and denies defendant’s motion to dismiss,” Judge Atkinson wrote.
Victory!
Kevin Snider, an attorney for the churches, says his clients are very pleased with the ruling.
“The ordinance was calculated to re-label religious institutions as places of public accommodation. Had the court gone the other way, it would have been the first time in the country that a church or religious ministry was deemed a place of public accommodation,” he told Fox 11 in an email.
It’s getting nasty out there when it comes to attacks on religious freedom. The LGBTW movement seeks to crush opposition, as we’ve seen in the gay cake lawsuits, and you can be sure that at some point this ordinance would have been used to attack churches.
Fortunately a judge had the common sense to protect these churches and thus uphold the First Amendment. But as the country becomes more and more LGBTW friendly, you can expect more and more challenges like this to go to the higher courts.