Pizza parlor's church discount gives atheists indigestion
Pizza parlor's church discount gives atheists indigestion
Steven Rose loves Jesus and pepperoni pizza.
But when the Searcy, Arkansas restaurateur decided to mix church and cheese it gave a group of out-of-town atheists a bad case of indigestion.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is threatening to sue Steven after he offered a discount to customers who bring in a church bulletin. They said Baileys Pizza is violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Steven is still contemplating what to do next. He fears a legal battle would be costly and hes quick to point out -- hes no Papa Johns.
The law requires places of public accommodation to offer their services to customers without regard to race, color, religion or national origin, FFRF spokesperson Elizabeth Cavell told television station KTHV.
Steven, who opened the pizza parlor in July, told me theres nothing nefarious about the church bulletin discount.
It was a straight-up marketing tool to give a discount to people I love and care about and have them come in and have lunch with me, he said. I thought it was a sweet idea. I didnt say you had to go to church to get it. Go get a bulletin from your neighbor and come in and have a pizza.
The trouble started a few weeks ago when someone posted a Facebook photo of the sign promoting the discount.
It was from a guy whose Facebook name is Bong Hits for Jesus, Steven told me. It said, good luck with the discrimination lawsuit.
Steven said he didnt consider the post to be a credible threat -- seeing how the Facebook users name is Bong Hits for Jesus.
Two weeks later, he received the letter from the Wisconsin-based atheist group. They said that if he did not stop offering a church discount, they would take appropriate steps.
Im just selling pizzas, Steven told me. I love my Lord and you see it expressed all over my building but Im just selling pizzas.
And hes not kidding. The local television station reports that customers are allowed to write Bible verses on the walls. And in the center is a message from the owners God is the center of our lives, so our scripture wall is the center of Baileys Pizza.
To me, if making a pepperoni pizza furthers the Kingdom well Im excited about that, he said.
But just because Steven is a Christian business owner doesnt mean he has a problem with non-believers.
Theyre coming at us and saying were discriminating, he said. I dont hate anybody.
The FFRF has a history of targeting and bullying Christian business owners. Earlier this month, a North Carolina diner dropped a discount for customers who prayed before their meal.
We are no longer issuing the 15% praying in public discount, read a sign posted at the Marys Gourmet Diner. It is illegal and we are being threatened by lawsuit. We apologize to our community for any offense this discount has incurred.
Why must atheist groups like FFRF be so ill-tempered?
So is it really unconstitutional for restaurants to provide religious-themed discounts? Not at all, says Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Institute.
In fact, if what FFRF is saying were true, restaurants and other businesses would be precluded from giving veterans and military members discounts because that would technically be discriminating based on veteran status, Sasser tells me. Is that what FFRF wants? Give me a break!
The folks at Baileys Pizza are still not sure why the Wisconsin atheists are targeting their restaurant.
They may have something against my pizza, he said.
Or maybe theyre upset because Baileys Pizza wont deliver to Wisconsin. Who knows?
Whatever the reason, Steven is still contemplating what to do next. He fears a legal battle would be costly and hes quick to point out -- hes no Papa Johns.
Its just me and my wife running this place, he said. Ive got window units at my house. Were not rich. Were just trying to be our own bosses and be an American success story.
Steven tells me its really sad that the FFRF is spending their money attack his restaurant.
The 75 cents that somebody saves when they bring in a church bulletin is that really what they need to be spending their money on? he asked. How about spending that money helping the homeless?
For now the church discount will remain at Baileys Pizza.
As for me and my house, well serve the Lord, he told me.
And he will also keep serving their 32 varieties of pies from Frito chili to baked potato pizza. "We pride ourselves in crazy pies, he said. But Im old school. I eat the pepperoni thats all I need.
You really cant go wrong with a large pepperoni. Just be sure to hold the anchovies and the atheists.
Tags
Who is online
81 visitors
You really cant go wrong with a large pepperoni. Just be sure to hold the anchovies and the atheists.
Frivolous at best,
Unless of course all discounts for groups such as AARP for those over a certain age, ladies nights at night clubs, children under a certain for free at parks, zoos, etc, frequent flyer benefits, discount cars at stores (for sharing your personal info in marketing efforts), are to be deemed illegal as well.
We have a pizza place in the area that gives you a dollar off pie when showing a ticket stub from the high school football games on game night, I wonder if they are next on the hit list?