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.
One of the most common rush days in family restaurants is Sunday from brunch thru lunch. The guy was stirring up church traffic. He’ll do just as well with his 10 to 4 Sunday discount.
Probably better. Not every church has a bulletin and not everyone brings one home
They aren’t a protected class are they?
My sense is that a business can run any kind of sale it wants. One eyed jacks, 2 toed midget scotsmen, whatever.
That discriminates against residents of constitutional carry states, unless any Vermont ID counts.
Returning churchgoers that we recognize with get an extra 15% off at the register.
Totalitarianism. What business if this is it to the govt?
It must be exhausting to be outraged all the time like leftists are.
Let’s see... Churchgoers tend to be polite, not make messes, dress nice, smell nice, and smile. He ought to up the discount to 20%.
Senior citizen discounts have been around for years. So have discounts for people that cut coupons. So have discounts for people who buy in bulk. Or who are switching brands. There are lady’s only discounts sometimes. Why is this what got this instance so awful if those were not?
This is not religious discrimination. Anyone, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, atheists get the 10% discount as long as they have a church bulletin.
They don’t even have to attended a service. They could get one from somebody else or even pull one out of the trash.
There was a similar situation in Pennsylvania a couple of years ago. A disgruntled atheist took the restaurant to some state agency. I never did find out how the agency ruled.
I find it sad that the restaurant owner was intimidated into changing his plan. If religious freedom does not include the right to favor those whose beliefs you share, on your own property, with your own resources, what does it mean?
For a challenge to the whole theory that Government should have the right to deny people the right to make their own decisions on their own property, as to whom to serve, whom to hire, etc., see "Civil Rights" vs. Civil Liberties.
The type of legislation that would cause this restaurant owner problems reflects a Compulsion For Uniformity, which is contrary to the once accepted principles of American Liberty & individual freedom.
What about discounts for military, senior or police??
Bob Baumhower’s restaurants used to do this as well. They stopped advertising it several years ago but, for a while, would still give the discount if asked. Don’t think they do it anymore, probably for the same reason (atheist fascists).
I am sure he is aware of consequences. In his case, probably means more business.
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