Should a bank or other private organization refuse service on the basic of religious viewpoints?
In this case I believe it’s much to do about nothing. Neither side wants to continue with each other so they part company, big deal. Where’s the harm?
OTOH, I don’t much care for a bank that embarks upon a
public campaign to point out the cancellation of the accounts of one of their customers on the basis of their political or ideological viewpoints. I guess I'm just unaccostumed to an activist banker?
Listening to the radio interview, I heard Mr. Williams of the Bank Co-op state they were not opposed to customers who where religious and they didn’t even oppose the positions held by other customers that homosexuality was wrong. So why treat Christian Voice differently?
It seems to be a matter of degree. Christian Voice is more vocal in their opposition to homosexuality compared to other religious customers who hold anti-homosexual positions. So the bank made a judgement call. So what?
Despite complaints of discrimination, Co-op Bank is a private organization and has the right to do business with whomever they want to. Banks in the US reserve the right to terminate accounts of customers at any time without any stated cause.
I find it puzzling though, why the Bank made such a public announcement about why they were terminating the groups’ bank account . Why did any of this have to be in the public domain? The previous episode between Christian Voice and Jerry Springer — Opera seems to have been the impetus for the Banks actions.
If the Bank suddenly went public without prior notice after having Christian Voice as a customer for 3 years, then as a bank customer I would have concerns and might consider doing business with a more discrete organization.
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