Steven Rose, a Christian owner of a pizza parlor in Arkansas, recently received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) stating that the 10 percent discount he offers to customers who bring in a church bulletin is unlawful, the New York Daily News reports.
According to the FFRF, the discount excludes nonchurchgoers, thereby violating the 1964 Civil Rights Act’s prohibitions against “discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin.” But Rose is correct in pointing out that, as a private business owner, he has a right to offer discounts as he sees fit. His business belongs to him, not to the FFRF, nor to the U.S. government, nor to nonchurchgoers, nor to anyone else—and the terms he offers, including any discounts he offers, are for him to decide, not for others to decide.
As Rose told the News, “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.” . . .
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