Is HUD threatened by a Christian group’s plans to expand? | Fox News

My simplistic take on the matter, the law states,,,therefore no; but sounds like they want an exception to be made in their case. Isn't that what they (and by "they" I mean religionists in general) accuse LGBT and secularists of? This is not a case of Christian persecution as it is being presented, it is a matter of what the "law" says. In a strict literal reading (ya know how some read Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13) of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act) it is what it is - no discrimination. Bare in mind, there are other issues as well involved (zoning laws for one) that are not mentioned by Starnes.

And please explain WTF President Obama has to do with enforcing a law written 40 years ago? Starnes is making an issue out of something that has yet to be decided upon. If you perceive equal treatment as bias then you will see persecution everywhere.

But that aside, what is not clearly mentioned is when this HUD restriction was discovered. "Recently" is the word being used in a few other articles on the matter so it is difficult to tell. Starnes' article does say, "[f]or more than a month, the mission has been trying to get clarification from HUD,,," I am fairly certain, or I would hope, that HUD wouldn't just make a rubber stamp decision. One variance/exemption can and will open up so many other issues not even touched on.

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Plans to develop the new facility were well under way when an insurance company discovered that the property had a private use restriction dating back some 40 years. That deed restriction was part of a partnership between the city and HUD.

Cincinnati officials agreed to waive the deed restriction, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. But so far, HUD has not.

[,,,]
A HUD spokesman told me they are investigating the matter and would not be able comment. The spokesman denied religion had anything to do with the controversy. But officials with the City Gospel Mission, the Cincinnati mayor’s office and the offices of U.S. Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown say religion indeed has something to do with the controversy.

“We are a faith-based Christian organization,” he said. “That is crucial to all of our programs. All of our staff adhere to those beliefs and live it. That’s important.”

For more than a month, the mission has been trying to get clarification from HUD on whether they can continue their ministry at the new location. But so far, HUD has not responded to their requests. So right now, the ministry is in a state of flux.

[,,,]
Portman told me he’s hoping HUD can give the Christian ministry a bit of leeway. But so far, HUD hasn’t responded to the senators’ letter either.

“It’s a fact that HUD has been so unwilling to show any kind of flexibility,” he said. “It’s a typical bureaucratic response in my view.”

Portman agreed with my observation that it sounds like the Obama Administration is taking another hard line position against religious liberty.

[,,,]
And yet the Obama Administration is trying to use the Fair Housing Act to put those men back on the streets. That doesn’t seem very fair to me.

Is HUD threatened by a Christian group’s plans to expand? | Fox News

See also: 
Men-only, religious focus could hold up shelter move

City Gospel Mission faces new hurdle, continued opposition to Queensgate project