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Practice Of Real EstateFair HousingHARD

Pastor Williams operates a church-owned transitional housing facility in Quincy, Massachusetts, with 10 rooms reserved exclusively for recently released male prisoners who are members of his congregation. A woman who is not a congregation member applies and is denied. She files a complaint under MGL Chapter 151B alleging sex and religion discrimination. Which of the following best describes the likely legal analysis?

Correct Answer

D) The facility may qualify for the religious organization exemption for religion-based preference but remains subject to scrutiny for the sex-based restriction

This scenario involves overlapping exemptions and protected classes. Under MGL Chapter 151B, a religious organization may give preference to members of its own religion for housing incidental to its non-commercial religious mission. This may shield the religion-based restriction. However, the sex-based restriction (males only) is a separate question. The religious organization exemption does not automatically justify sex discrimination; the facility would need to demonstrate that the single-sex restriction is directly tied to a bona fide religious doctrine or that the housing qualifies as a single-sex shelter under applicable law. The analysis is fact-specific and both restrictions face independent scrutiny.

Answer Options
A
The facility is fully exempt under both the religious organization and private club exemptions of Chapter 151B
B
The facility is fully subject to Chapter 151B because transitional housing is a commercial enterprise regardless of who operates it
C
The facility is exempt from Chapter 151B because it serves a social welfare purpose recognized by the state
D
The facility may qualify for the religious organization exemption for religion-based preference but remains subject to scrutiny for the sex-based restriction

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

fair_housingexemptionsreligious_organizationsex_discriminationtransitional_housingchapter_151Bexpert_trap

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