Judge Rules Iowa Churches Are Not Subject to Government Control as Places of ‘Public Accomodation’ – CBN News

Judge Stephanie Rose

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Judge Rules Iowa Churches Are Not Subject to Government Control

By Heather Sells, 10-26-16

A federal judge in Iowa has ruled that churches are not “public accommodations” and therefore not subject to government control.

The ruling could prove pivotal as the country considers whether or not houses of worship are subject to public accommodation anti-discrimination laws.

In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Rose allowed a lawsuit filed by the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ to continue. The church filed suit in objection to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission applying a state civil rights law to churches.

In light of the new ruling, the church is dismissing its lawsuit.

“The court cut off this unconstitutional power grab by clarifying that the law does not apply to churches,” ADF [Alliance Defending Freedom] attorney Steve O’Ban said.

Judge Rose noted in her ruling that “state and federal courts have held that churches and the programs they host are not places of public accommodation.”

However, LGBT activists often claim churches and other houses of worship are places of public accommodation in order to force them to follow government anti-discrimination laws…. [Story continues at CBN News]