Protecting Freedom of Religion from Non-Discrimination Laws

The Pennsylvania Human Relations—charged with enforcing Pennsylvania’s non-discrimination laws—entered a Final Order allowing Prudhomme’s Lost Cajun Kitchen to continue offering a discount on Sundays to persons who come with a current church bulletin. Intolerant of religion in society, the Freedom from Religion Foundation and one of its members brought a Complaint with Pennsylvania’s non-discrimination agency, claiming that the discount discriminated on the basis of religion.

“We should all keep in mind what discrimination is and why we passed laws like the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act,” said Randall Wenger of the Independence Law Center. “This law was designed to prohibit the mean-hearted refusal to serve someone at a lunch counter on account of their race or religion—not the kind-hearted desire to honor a public good like church attendance. Honoring an American tradition like church attendance should not be treated like bigotry.”