Dr. Ben Carson, secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is investigating a complaint concerning the violation of religious liberties at a senior apartment complex in Oklahoma.
Carson is reviewing actions by the owner and manager of Wilhoit Properties, Inc. after receiving a letter from a resident living in at the Carriage Crossing apartment complex. The resident was distressed over management ordering the removal of Bibles and religious decorations from a Christmas tree.
“Religious liberty is at the core of our Nation’s identity and will be upheld under the Fair Housing Act,” Carson said in a statement. “Barring religious materials infringes upon this right, and the Trump Administration will not stand for discrimination against any group for practicing their religious traditions.”
HUD says if its investigation concludes that if there is sufficient evidence indicating violation of the Fair Housing Act, a charge of discrimination could be filed. “Throughout the process, HUD will seek conciliation and voluntary resolution. If a charge is filed, it may be resolved through settlement, an administrative determination, or referral to the Department of Justice.”
As CBN News has reported, apartment residents in other states have also faced discrimination or even eviction over their faith.
The state of California was investigating a case in 2019 where an elderly widow was reportedly forced to leave her apartment due to her religious convictions and advanced age.
Diana Martin had lived at the Windgate Village Apartments in Hanford for nearly 14 years. Back in February, the 85-year-old was told by the owner John Draxler that she was being evicted.
Despite having months left on her year-to-year lease and her rent being fully paid, Draxler cited her religious activities, sharing her faith, and offering to pray for others as reasons why she had to find a new home.
Attorneys with Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) stepped in to assist Martin and filed a discrimination charge with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
“What happened to our client, Diana Martin, was wrong on many levels,” PJI Attorney Matthew McReynolds said in a press release. “No one should be evicted based on their religious expression, but especially not an elderly great-grandmother. We are hopeful that a state investigation and remedial action will ensure this doesn’t happen to anyone else in this community.”
And a couple in Virginia was caught in a legal battle over holding religious gatherings at their apartment complex in Fredericksburg.
Ken and Liv Hauge said they were threatened with eviction after holding Bible studies in their private apartment.
Faith-based law firm First Liberty got involved and filed a lawsuit, arguing that the ban was a violation of the Fair Housing Act, by discriminating against the couple’s freedom of religion.
A settlement was reached, and the Hagues signed a new lease indicating that they were permitted to host Bible studies in the community room or in their private apartment.
“The settlement provides that the policy that prohibited any religious activities from occurring in the community room is rescinded so that means anyone, not just the Bible study, that wants to have an event has equal access regardless of the religious content,” the couple’s lawyer, Lea Patterson, told Fox 5.
Andrew Cuomo Targets Jewish Community Again, Blaming Them for Viral Spread in New York
New York’s Andrew Cuomo — the Democratic governor who has, at the same time, praised Black Lives Matter protests while repeatedly condemning religious folks for gathering during the pandemic — has singled out the Jewish community yet again, saying Wednesday observant Jews are spreading the coronavirus “because of their religious practices.”
He targeted the Orthodox Jewish community, saying they are responsible for a renewed spread of the virus in the Empire State.
“We’re now having issues in the Orthodox Jewish community in New York, where because of their religious practices, etc., we’re seeing a spread,” claimed Cuomo, whom Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is reportedly considering for his attorney general, should he win the election next month.
That comment from the leftist governor came a week after he used a 14-year-old photo from a Jewish funeral to target the Orthodox Jewish community in New York, saying they have “been a problem” in “recent weeks.”
“We know religious institutions have been a problem,” he said. “We know mass gatherings are the super-spreader events. We know there have been mass gatherings going on in concert with religious institutions in these communities for weeks.”
In the wake of those remarks by Cuomo, Orthodox Jewish leaders took to the streets to protest and condemn the governor and his administration’s crackdown on religious freedoms amid the pandemic.
Four Orthodox Jewish lawmakers who represent the neighborhoods impacted by Cuomo’s restrictive mandates said in a letter they are “appalled” by the governor’s actions and his singling out of their communities.
“He has chosen to pursue a scientifically and constitutionally questionable shutdown of our communities,” read the letter.
For his part, Cuomo put the issue back on the Orthodox Jewish communities, claiming their frustration stems from their failure to follow his rules.
“To the extent there are communities that are upset, that’s because they haven’t been following the original rules, he said. “That’s why the infection spread, because they weren’t following the rules and the rules weren’t being enforced.”
As for the Black Lives Matter protests that brought thousands to the streets of New York, Cuomo said: “I stand with the protesters.”
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