Posted on 07/20/2018 11:53:00 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
CHEVIOT, OH (WLWT/CNN) – A restaurant owner in Ohio is facing legal questions after offering a discount to churchgoers.
"This was the furthest thing from my mind when we came up with this idea," said Justin Watson, the owner of Starters Cafe in Cheviot, OH.
Watson opened the restaurant about seven weeks ago.
He said all he was trying to do was stir up some business with his discount offer to churches. Instead, he stirred up a hornet's nest.
"Any congregation, any religion, any area, whatever, as long as you brought me a church bulletin, I would give you 10 percent off your meal for the day," Watson said. "It seemed pretty simple, and here we are."
Watson said he got angry comments from some saying he was discriminating against non-religious people.
Someone also passed along a form letter from the nonprofit Freedom from Religion Foundation, telling people to alert the owner to the illegality of the practice.
Jim Helton with American Atheists said legality is not always clear-cut in such cases, but he said Watson's actions appear illegal.
"In this case, it was illegal because it was only offering to churches," said Helton, adding that the discount is different from a senior citizen discount or a military discount because religion or lack of religion are considered protected classes.
But there's not a consensus on the issue.
Attorney Jason Phillabaum said he doesn't see anything wrong with giving a discount to churchgoers.
"The law prohibits discrimination. And in this particular case, he's not denying service. He's offering a discount if someone does something specific like bring in a church bulletin," Phillabaum said.
To be on the safe side, and to make his offer to even more people, Watson has changed his discount policy.
"In response, we just removed the 10 percent offer and sent a letter of apology and tried to clear the board. So now we're just offering, on Sunday, noon to four, 10 percent for everybody," Watson said.
It's a deal he thinks will be more universally palatable.
I’ve seen them passed out to churches — even places I’d never go.
Just say you also put one in the atheist bulletins :)
Too bad he backed down......
But he should be free from governmental consequences, i.e., lawsuits. The Amendments are about what government can’t interfere with. One’s fellow citizens have the right to peacefully protest and to not spend their money where they don’t agree with the owner’s policies. Those are the only consequences that a owner should have to factor into how he runs his business.
It used to be fairly common. I remember there was a burger chain (Burger King ?) that made this a regular offering in the ‘70’s but am always surprised when anyone is stupid enough to try it today.
I read where at least one of the bakeries gladly served them as customers for regular stuff. As you say - it was the inscription (and purpose) of the cake.
That whole “civil rights” thing sure had a lot of unintended (?) consequences. Obviously I can see that government has to be blind to color, religion, etc.
But if some business in the south wants to keep half (or more) of the customers in their area out of the store, that should be their worry.
Same for veterans discounts. Or how about the the medical cost sharing organizations that require religious affiliation?
we get military discounts at Lowes and Homo Depot. what about that??? Draft dodgers unite!!
We used to go to a restaurant in SoCal that gave a discount with a church bulletin for that Sunday’s service. It seemed like a nice idea; we took advantage of it often.
Companies give discounts to all sorts of people including the military without a word. Why is this any different?
“Well they can go to Hell!”.
I expect that’s what will happen.
Freedom from Religion Foundation, doing Satan’s work since 1978.
Is the senior discount still ok? Student discount? Ladies day discount? Military discount? Etc., etc.?
Tough. Get used to it.
It’s a free country.
If someone offered 10% off to flaming homosexuals, the left would think it’s a great idea.
The left is all and only about control.
They CANNOT stand the thought that someone might do something they don’t approve of.
Or senior citizens discounts?
The place I get donuts from will throw in some extras if your buying for church. I don’t buy a lot of donuts, but just knowing they do that makes me loyal to them.
How about “Show us your CCW, get 10% discount”.
Kids get stuff for “A”s on report cards, what about the dumb kids ???
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