The atheist and the discriminating discount

Last weekend while out sightseeing, I walked past a restaurant that advertised free meals for children under 10. I envisioned a family with several small children, and the parents paying for only two meals. What a nice deal, and a great way to pull in tourists, I thought. The restaurant probably offered a discount for seniors as well. I don’t qualify for either discount. Both discriminate in that they make a distinction in favor of or against a person on the basis of group, class, or category. In that sense, the restaurant discriminates against me.

Most people don’t have a problem with private businesses offering discounts based on age or even sex. Raise your hand if you’ve ever attended “ladies night” at a bar or club where women were admitted free. Let’s say a government facility offered a discount based on sex. The legal foundation becomes shaky. The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment bars the state (or a state actor) from discriminating on the basis of race or sex.

What if a private business offered a discount based on race? The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits racial discrimination in public accommodations (hotels, restaurants, theaters, etc.). Does the same apply to a business that offers a discount based on religion?

John Wolff, an 80-year-old Jew-turned-Catholic-turned-atheist in Pennsylvania, filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission against Prudhomme’s Lost Cajun Kitchen in Columbia, Pa., which offers a 10 percent discount to patrons who present a current church bulletin on Sundays. According to the York Daily Record, the man has never eaten at the restaurant. He read about the discount on the restaurant’s website.

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Linda F.

I don't buy the guy's justification for filing the lawsuit. I think he really did do this out of spite, but he's too cowardly and spineless to admit it. In fact, he basically contradicted himself. First, he said that he wasn't do this out of spite. Then he goes on to say that there are so many "self-righteous people" that he is annoyed. So in other words: "I'm not doing this out of spite … but I really want to get back at those self-righteous people. And if I win, not only will I get my revenge … but I'll get some money, too!"

The man is 80-years-old, and he's acting like a whiny, spiteful 6-year-old in the midst of a temper tantrum.
keyboardshark

No one is forcing him to eat at the restaurant, and the restaurant is not in any way barring him from patronizing it if he wishes. It is simply intolerance on his part of anyone who goes to church and an underlying hatred of God. He admits he has never been to the restaurant, so what is the basis of his complaint? If he disagrees with their policy he can vote with his wallet and simply not eat there. The whole thing is a tempest in a teapot.
agbjr

Mr. Wolff is obviously a nasty old curmudgeon looking to punish 'society' for whatever disappointments he has had in life. This entire suit is frankly asinine and at best a lesson in intolerance on the part of the filing party. The local churches should schedule and publicly announce prayers to be offered for him by the respective congregations.
Evermyrtle

Businesses have the right to offer any break they choose, to their customers, just as we have the right to choose that business or not, or even to boycott that business. What we do not have aright to rule that business in any other way.by any kind of force
lambsev

Am I wrong or are we supposed to love our enemies. Perhaps the owner of this resturaunt ought also offer a discount to those who can show their membership card for the American Atheists or their membership card for the Communist Party USA, or any membership or attendance proofs for other religious services (buddhist, jewish, ba'hai, even muslim!). Heaven will be very satisfying, let us as christians offer them heaven instead of giving them hell.
Ken

Why doesn't he just stop by a church — any church — pick up a bulletin, and then go straight to the restaurant and get the discount? He doesn't even have to attend the service.

That way he gets his 10% off ,and he can have the satisfaction that he put one over on both the restaurant owner and the church.

(Or could it be that he just wants to cause trouble, bring attention to himself and generally rain on everyone's parade? NAHHH…)

BTW, I wonder if this 80-year old gentleman has ever passed up a Senior Discount because it just didn't seem fair to all the young folks.
Taquoshi

"John Wolff, an 80-year-old Jew-turned-Catholic-turned-atheist".."has never eaten at the restaurant. He read about the discount on the restaurant’s website." He's apparently totally confused and not even a customer!!!!

I think we should all bless him with copies of church bulletins so he can go if he wants and get the discount. Also, at 80 years old, wouldn't he be eligible for senior discounts, too? I'm not eligible for them (too young) so can I start suing companies and restaurants based on ageism?