An atheist has filed a discrimination complaint against a Columbia, Pennsylvania-based restaurant. The offense? The establishment has been offering a 10 percent discount for individuals who bring in a church bulletin on Sundays. John Wolff, who has officially issued his grievance with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, is hoping that Prudhommes Lost Cajun Kitchen is held accountable for its diner discount.
I did this not out of spite, but out of a feeling against the prevailing self-righteousness that stems from religion, particularly in Lancaster County, Wolff, a retired electrical engineer, said of his decision to go toe-to-toe with the restaurant. I dont consider it an earthshaking affair, but in this area in particular, we seem to have so many self-righteous religious people, so it just annoys me.
But one of the co-owners of the restaurant, Sharon Prudhomme, isnt backing down to Wolffs challenge. She claims that Lost Cajun Kitchen technically doesnt discriminate, because people dont actually have to be believers or even attend church for that matter to get the discount. Anyone, she claims, can walk into a church and take a bulletin.
Prudhomme is also doubling-down in saying that the restaurant has no intention of halting the discount program, Lancaster Online reports. Since Sundays are slow, the discount is intended to boost customer flow something that is important during tough economic times.
Wolffs main issue is that hes allegedly been offered different services because of his religious preferences or lack thereof. Prudhomme, though, calls the entire complaint a waste. Despite her opposition, the restaurants owners will need to respond to it within 30 days in writing.
Then, the commission will decide if the complaint is a viable one. If, indeed, the restaurant is found to be discriminating, a public hearing will result. In the end, it is possible that the restaurant, pending they lose, would be required to stop the promotion.
Poster Comment:
I did this not out of spite, but out of a feeling against the prevailing self-righteousness that stems from religion, particularly in Lancaster County, Wolff, a retired electrical engineer, said of his decision to go toe-to-toe with the restaurant. I dont consider it an earthshaking affair, but in this area in particular, we seem to have so many self-righteous religious people, so it just annoys me. Poster comment: Sure sounds like "spite" to me. Is Wolff going to go after elderly widows next who try to get a 10% for being a senior. What we have here is a good business decision by the restaurant owner being challenged by a spiteful atheist who claims the people getting discounts are "self-righteous." The humourous piece to this is, how does an atheist measure "self-righteousness" in a relative worldview?