To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

'We're Not Allowed to Have Bible Study': Elderly Couple Heads to Court Over Eviction Threat

Mark Martin : Jul 10, 2019  CBN News

"They've also prohibited the saying of table grace at resident social meals. In fact, what [The Evergreens senior living has] done is they will refuse to reimburse the resident social director for the costs of the meal if table grace is said." -Lea Patterson, counsel with First Liberty

(Fredericksburg, VA) — [CBN News] An elderly Christian couple could be evicted from their Virginia senior living community if they hold a Bible study. (Screengrab image: via CBN News)

But the two are fighting back. They've now filed a federal lawsuit, alleging religious discrimination.

Ken and Liv Hauge have been married for 64 years. The 87-year-old Ken and 85-year-old Liv study the Bible together during personal devotions in their Fredericksburg apartment.

It's a peaceful scene, but if the retired Lutheran minister and his wife invited others over to study the Bible, they could be evicted.

"Specifically we're not allowed to have Bible study. And in that 21/30 Notice, it went broader than covering the Club Room," Ken told CBN News. "It specifies that I am not permitted—because it's considered conducting business for me—to lead a Bible study."

The threat of eviction by the property management and the parent company says that Ken and Liv could be evicted for breaching their lease if they hold a Bible study in the community room or even in their own apartment.

"Tremendous sadness and just a great disappointment that the company would develop such a discriminatory policy against the community of especially Christian faith," Ken shared.

The notice reads, "You have breached the terms of your lease by engaging in conduct which has caused, and continues to cause, serious and substantial disturbances with other residents of the community..."

It calls on the Hauges to "cease conducting any business operations" in their home and the community other than those permitted under their lease, citing Bible study class, religious movie screenings and "counseling" sessions as banned "business operations."

The non-profit religious freedom law firm, First Liberty, is representing the Hauges.

"They've also prohibited the saying of table grace at resident social meals," Lea Patterson, counsel with First Liberty, told CBN News. "In fact, what they've done is they will refuse to reimburse the resident social director for the costs of the meal if table grace is said."

First Liberty says that even though the law protects the Hauges from religious discrimination in housing, Ken has agreed to temporarily stop leading the Bible study to prevent being evicted—until the situation is resolved legally.

"What we're asking is for the court to hold the management company accountable for violating Ken and Liv's right to live out their faith in their own home as well as to ensure that no other residents have to suffer through what the Hauges have endured," Patterson explained.

The landlord writes that the threat of eviction "is in no way based on your religious beliefs and/or practices or requesting that you cease practicing your religion."

CBN News reached out to the attorney representing The Evergreens at Smith Run and its parent company, Community Realty Company, for comment on the situation, including the federal lawsuit.

A spokesperson for The Evergreens declined, saying they "cannot comment on matters of pending litigation."

The Evergreens management and its parent company have until July 10 to respond to the lawsuit. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

'The Way, The Truth and The Life': Direct Descendant of Muhammad Now Follows Jesus

Food for Thought: The Rich Do Not Get Rich at Expense of the Poor [Video]

Mamdani Erases Little Italy ... and (Of Course) the Jews

A Lesson from King David, and a Call to Prayer from Give Him 15

Prayer Alert: Israel Has Informed the US of Another Specific Plot to Assassinate Donald Trump

Marco Rubio Steps in After Tim Walz Pardoned Illegal Alien Child Rapist before Deportation

Prosecutors Present Texts of Alleged Confession by Tyler Robinson in Hearing for Charlie Kirk Murder

'The Resurrection and the Life': Navy Vet Comes Back to Life After Family Prays

Are Weight Loss Medications Right for You? Pros and Cons of GLP-1s

Company Issues Voluntary Recall of This Specific Kind of 'Pedigree' Canned Dog Food

Prayer Alert: Hundreds of Thousands of Acres Burn as Fires Spread in West

HHS Announces $281 Million to Expand Addiction and Mental Health Programs

Results: In Turkey, Trump Ordered a Trade Halt with Spain, Now They've Suddenly Agreed to Boost NATO Payments

As Billboards Promoting 'Birth Tourism' Pop Up Along Border, Trump to Ask SCOTUS to Reconsider 'Insane Decision' in Birthright Citizenship Case

Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Theories Suddenly Disappear as Video Evidence is Shown in Court

Donnie Wahlberg: 'The Most Important Thing I Ever Did Was to Give My Life to Christ'

'Fourth of July Miracle': Missing 4-Year-Old Found Alive after Walking Nearly Five Miles Along Oregon Coast

Christian Hollywood Star Exposes the Perverse, 'Demonic' Fraud Inside Foster Care System

Brazilian Judge Sentences Parents to Prison for Homeschooling Their Daughters

Little Sisters of the Poor Return to Court Again over Obama Contraception Mandate



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



Subscribe to
Breaking Christian News


Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com