A Pastor in Virginia is facing eviction for hosting a home Bible study.
A semi-retired Lutheran minister in Fredericksburg, Virginia faces the possibility of being evicted from a senior living community because he’s been hosting a small Bible study in the privacy of his apartment.
First Liberty Institute is representing Pastor Ken Hauge. The pastor has accused the management of The Evergreens at Smith Run of verbal abuse and harassment directed at Christians who live in the complex.
Hiram Sasser wrote in a letter to the corporate owner of the community saying,
“The threat of eviction follows repeated religious discrimination by The Evergreens management, including forcing Hauge to refer to his event as a ‘Book Review’ rather than a ‘Bible Study’”.
Sasser told the Todd Starnes Radio Show that management also withdrew support of a social event because a resident said grace over a meal. Sasser said the management also banned all religious activities from the community room.
First Liberty Institute is calling on The Evergreens to rescind the eviction threat, and the rule banning religious activities from the community room, and stop the harassment of people of faith.
Sasser said the actions “violate federal law, including the Fair Housing Act”.
The Fair Housing Act clearly prohibits discrimination against any person because of religion. It also forbids landlords from imposing different conditions or privileges because of a person’s religion.
In essence, the apartment complex told the pastor that if he wishes to stay he must never pray or discuss the Bible with anyone – even in the privacy of his home.