Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Religion & Law Blogs -> Religion Clause

Religion & Law

: Religion Clause

Complaint Says Roommate Ad On Church Bulletin Board Violates Fair Housing Act

By Howard M. Friedman

WOOD-TV News and Fox News report on a complaint filed (full text) with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights over an ad that a woman posted on her church's bulletin board seeking a Christian roommate.  The Fair Housing Center of West Michigan filed the complaint against a 31-year old Grand Rapids (MI) woman after someone in the congregation complained about the ad. A Fair Housing Center spokesperson says that the woman has the right to limit renting out to Christian roommates, but it is a violation of law to advertise publicly using religious criteria. The federal Fair Housing Act, 42 USC Sec. 3604 provides that it is unlawful:

To 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, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.

An Alliance Defense Fund attorney representing the woman charged with the FHA and Michigan Civil Rights Act violations said: "Christians shouldn't live in fear of being punished by the government for being Christians. It is completely absurd to try to penalize a single Christian woman for privately seeking a Christian roommate at church -- an obviously legal and constitutionally protected activity." [Updated]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 24, 2010 (boomark / email).