Why discrimination case was dropped against woman who posted ad seeking Christian roommate

November 05, 2010
Cami Reister
 The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- In a battle between the U.S. Constitution and federal fair housing law, the Constitution always wins.

That was the guiding force when it came to dropping a case alleging a 31-year-old Grand Rapids woman violated fair housing law when she posted a flier at her church seeking a "Christian roommate."

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion. But as the case reached the investigation stage, officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights saw more than one constitutional issue coming into play.  the rest