Iowa churches safe from anti-bias law, judge says

DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa church is dropping its lawsuit against the state and the city of Des Moines after a federal judge issued a ruling protecting the church’s religious liberty.

The District Court judge has ruled that churches do not count as “public accommodations” under the Iowa Civil Rights Act and are not subject to censorship of their views on marriage and sexuality.

Fort Des Moines Church of Christ filed suit in July seeking protection from nondiscrimination laws in its city and state.

Amid growing debate over the use of public restrooms by transgender people, the church wanted to publish clear guidelines that men and women should use the restrooms and showers corresponding with their biological sex. But the church feared repercussions from the state after it read statements from the Iowa Civil Rights Commission that implied churches must comply with a 2007 amendment to the Iowa Civil Rights Act that made sexual orientation and gender identity protected classes.

The commission revised the brochure, saying it did not intend to apply the law to churches.

Christiana Holcomb, counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented the church, lauded the ruling and said it would not take the lawsuit further.

“This lawsuit was necessary to ensure that the state won’t try to enforce the law against churches, and we’re pleased that Iowa churches now have the reassurance and clarity that they need,” she said. (WORLD News Group)