Church Asks Court to Halt Iowa's New 'Civil Rights' Policy

A church in Iowa is asking a federal judge to stop the Iowa Civil Rights Commission from implementing its newest anti-discrimination law.

The commission is applying portions of the state policy and Fort Des Moines Church of Christ says the law violates the church's rights to free speech and free exercise of religion.

Since Fort Des Moines welcomes nonmembers and nonbelievers at its worship services, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission has taken the position that the state law requires the church to censor its speech and provide facilities for transgender individuals. 

The church says the law would not only have them abide by transgender bathroom rules, but it would limit sermons about gay and transgender identity. 

 "The speech ban is so broadly written as to prohibit a pastor's sermon about God's design in creating each person as either male or female," wrote religious legal defense organization Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) on its website. 

The group is representing Fort Des Moines and they have filed a motion in federal court to block the policy.

"For the first time in our nation's history, state officials are attempting to control a church's religious teaching and its house of worship," the ADF wrote. 

The commission says it's never enforced the law against churches and has made it clear churches are generally exempt.

But ADF Legal Counsel Christiana Holcomb says faith leaders have cause to be concerned.

"Churches should be free to communicate their religious beliefs and operate their houses of worship according to their faith without fearing government punishment, and until the law is changed, every church in Iowa has a right to be concerned," Holcomb said.