On her church’s bulletin board: "I am looking for a Christian roommate"

So… someone from the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan sees a notice on a church bulletin board and files a lawsuit? That’s just plain creepy, IMO. http://oldsite.alliancedefensefund.org/userdocs/MichCivilRightsComplain…] The complaint states that the suit is filed “in good faith” and “not for the purposes of harassment”, but it sure sounds like harassment to me.

Doesn’t surprise me, knowing the poverty and housing industry in Grand Rapids. Even though West Michigan is quite politically conservative, there are alot of local government as well as non-profit advocacy groups that are over-the-top liberal/socialistic. For instance, a little over a decade ago, there was a task force created by the Mayor to study what “Justice” could look like in the city of Grand Rapids. Check out its comprehensive socialistic agenda! It makes Obama look like a Tea Party Conservative :bigsmile:

http://radiantjustice.tripod.com/index2.html

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/11/why_discrimina… Why discrimination case was dropped against woman who posted ad seeking Christian roommate

A statement released by the Department of Civil Rights said its investigation revealed “legal issues that involved questions of federal and possibly U.S. constitutional law, which required that we coordinate with HUD to assure uniform application nationwide.”

HUD subsequently took the case back from the department and made its own determination.

Maurice McGough, deputy regional director for fair housing and equal opportunity in HUD’s Chicago office, said they were concerned about the individual’s right to freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of intimate association, among other issues.

[red] The fact that it was a roommate situation and that the woman posted her ad in a church — as opposed to a general circulation newspaper, for example — came into play, HUD officials said.

“We looked at those general protections and, without trying to draw too fine of a distinction between them, we erred on the side of the Constitution,” McGough said. “This is the federal government. We have to be (careful) about how we enforce our authority.”

Nancy L. Haynes, executive director of the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, said HUD’s determination was based on this specific case.

“It’s unique and specific to this case,” Haynes said. “It’s not that there is some new exception to the law.”

The woman, who has not been identified, was represented by the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group in Scottsdale, Ariz., which sent a letter to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights asking for dismissal.

“It’s good news they’re dropping the complaint,” ADF attorney Joel Oster said. But he called the document (PDF) he received from HUD a “head-scratcher,” because of mixed messages. While HUD dismissed the case, it gave the complainant the ability to file a personal lawsuit within the next two years.

Oster said the woman’s house is 900 square feet with one bathroom.

“We think there is no reason to issue a right-to-sue letter,” Oster said. “We think clearly the statute was not meant to apply to these type of facts.”

HUD’s Feldman said enforcing the Fair Housing Act still is key to the department’s mission of creating “a strong, sustainable and inclusive community.”

“That’s what the law gets down to,” she said, “making sure all Americans have the same opportunity for good housing.”

The allegations made national headlines when the investigation became public. The Fair Housing Center and the Civil Rights Department were flooded with phone calls and e-mails from those disagreeing with the investigation.

While HUD dismissed the case, it gave the complainant the ability to file a personal lawsuit within the next two years.

I don’t get that either- the complainant can sue this lady because they were offended by a legal note on a church bulletin board?