A Minneapolis-area senior citizens' living center has told an occupant to put up her Bible and halt discussions of her faith -- even if people are willing to hear the message.
Ruth Sweats of Spring Lake Park's Osborne Apartments tried to read her Bible, pray, and conduct a private conversation about her faith with another resident -- but a social worker told her to stop. The reason? The complex claims that because it is a Housing and Urban Development property that receives funds from the federal government, it cannot allow residents to engage in private religious expression in the commons area.
Alliance Defending Freedom has written a letter [PDF] to apartment officials explaining that the Establishment Clause found in the Constitution is a restriction on government - not on private speakers.
"Government funding shouldn't be misused to ban a widow's prayer," explains ADF attorney Matt Sharp. "The private decision of a senior citizen to discuss her faith or read the Bible or pray is all private speech -- and no law requires that a privately owned independent living facility like this one should restrict the religious expression of these members of America's greatest generation."
According to Sharp, tenants do not surrender their constitutional rights of free speech and religion because they live in a facility underwritten by federal tax dollars. The ADF letter explains that, plus the fact that the actions by the center's staff member may violate federal and state anti-discrimination laws.
Alliance Defending Freedom has written a letter [PDF] to apartment officials explaining that the Establishment Clause found in the Constitution is a restriction on government - not on private speakers.
"Government funding shouldn't be misused to ban a widow's prayer," explains ADF attorney Matt Sharp. "The private decision of a senior citizen to discuss her faith or read the Bible or pray is all private speech -- and no law requires that a privately owned independent living facility like this one should restrict the religious expression of these members of America's greatest generation."
According to Sharp, tenants do not surrender their constitutional rights of free speech and religion because they live in a facility underwritten by federal tax dollars. The ADF letter explains that, plus the fact that the actions by the center's staff member may violate federal and state anti-discrimination laws.
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