Do Public Accommodation Laws Limit Ability To Carry Out Shunning?

Suits filed yesterday by the Arizona Attorney General against two restaurant owners raise the interesting question of how far members of religious groups can go in implementing a religious decision to excommunicate or "shun" a fellow member without violating civil rights laws. According to the Associated Press the lawsuits charge the restaurant owners, who are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with refusing to serve Isaac Wyler and Andrew Chatwin who were excommunicated in 2004 by then-FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. One of the suits claims that FLDS members are taught to shun Jeffs opponents. (AP) The restaurants are located in Colorado City, Arizona, one of the centers of the FLDS Church-- best known for its continued practice of polygamy. Commenting on the suit, a representative of the Arizona Attorney General's office said that refusing to serve Wyler and Chatwin because they are not FLDS member violates Arizona law: "The law in Arizona says that if you operate a place of public accommodation, you cannot refuse service based on religion." The suits seek damages and a court order prohibiting future discriminatory conduct.