The Case of the Danbury Cafeteria

Constitution Thursday

In Danbury, Connecticut, the local Baptist congregation is deeply concerned about the ability to freely practice their religion. Sure, the Constitution says they can, but those words are only as good as the men who uphold them. They are pleased that Thomas Jefferson, a well-known fighter for religious freedom is now President. Still, they want to make sure where he stands, so they write him a letter. Two Hundred and twelve years later, the Grace Cathedral Church in Akron, OH, which didn't exist when Jefferson replied to the Danbury Baptists, decided to freely exercise their religion by opening, of all things, a public cafeteria on their own property. Much of the staff was paid and employed by the Church, but many of the service staff were volunteers from the church. They were there to "help" smoothly run things and to proselytize while they worked. You will not be surprised to learn that the government objected to this arrangement and filed a lawsuit alleging violations of FSLA rules. Mind you now, not one single person complained or filed a complaint about it. The government decided that it was a violation and shut it down hard. And so we take a look at the Case of the Danbury Cafeteria...