Oklahoma City's City Council To Decide Fate Of Senior Wellness Center

Liberty Institute Discourages Oklahoma City City Council Against Religious Discrimination; Holds Press Availability After Tomorrow's Meeting

OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Liberty Institute:

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WHAT:  Tomorrow, Liberty Institute will attend a scheduled Oklahoma City City Council meeting to share Liberty Institute's perspective on avoiding religious discrimination against Healthy Living and Fitness, Inc.'s proposal to operate a new senior wellness center. The ACLU of Oklahoma criticized Healthy Living's proposal—which tied for first to win the City's bid—as unconstitutional because it included a provision to rent the facility to a local church after hours.  A Liberty Institute attorney will be available for media interviews following the meeting.

WHO:   Liberty Institute Director of Litigation Hiram Sasser will be present at the City Council meeting to respond to the ACLU's allegations. Mr. Sasser will ask the City Council to avoid discriminating against Healthy Living merely because it wishes to rent its facility to a church.

WHEN:    Tuesday, August 13, at 8:30 AM CT. Media availability to follow meeting around 10 AM.

WHERE:   Oklahoma City City Council Chambers, 200 N. Walker Ave., Oklahoma City, OK  73102

DETAILS:  Oklahoma City's Metropolitan Area Projects ("MAPS 3") initiative includes the addition of senior citizen activity and wellness centers throughout the city.  The City solicited proposals from various groups to operate the centers. Of the proposals received, a City committee rated, based on objective criteria, Healthy Living and Fitness, Inc. in a tie for best proposal. Healthy Living is a non-profit that is not affiliated with any religious entity. Healthy Living's proposal is to lease or purchase an existing facility and property from Putnam City Baptist Church, and to operate the senior wellness center as Healthy Living. Healthy Living's proposal also includes a provision to rent the facility to Putnam City Baptist Church when the center is closed for normal business.

The ACLU of Oklahoma raised concerns that this arrangement might violate the Establishment Clause, even though Healthy Living is not a religious organization.  There is no law against renting a government facility to a religious organization.  To the contrary, the Supreme Court repeatedly held that it is unconstitutional to refuse to rent a government facility to an organization because it is religious. 

About Liberty Institute
Liberty Institute is a national nonprofit legal group dedicated to defending and restoring religious liberty across America — in our schools, for our churches and throughout the public arena. Liberty's vision is to reestablish religious liberty in accordance with the principles of our nation's Founders. For information, visit www.LibertyInstitute.org.

SOURCE Liberty Institute