Declining Projects Legally

[DVideo]

Greetings,

Our family owns a small design firm in Indiana. You might now our state just passed a hastily crafted amendment to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that says basically no business can legally object to work even if it violates their faith. I think this is bigger than a lifestyle/wedding issue and will have wider consequences.

We are unsure if we can turn down any project like a whiskey maker that promotes partying or an immoral clothing catalog or even a church and ministry that has fallen away. This gets particularly distressing if the potential client is a "protected" group or status under federal, state or local laws. We'd have no issue promoting a lawn care business run by a protected group but not a business or organization that promotes products and services that clearly violates Scripture.

Are there ways to avoid legal trouble? Some suggestions I've heard...

-Not returning calls or emails from that potential client until they go elsewhere
-Raising the price significantly (Differing weights and measures? What if they paid?)
-Having the option to watermark our logo and belief statement on all final work
-Sharing a portion of the invoice will go to a legal cause that protects Christians in these cases

Thanks for any counsel. We realize there is time to take a stand no matter the consequences, a time to be salt and light through it and a time to be as wise as a serpent.

[larryt]

Just a quick response.  Your existing list of how to handle these seems good.

However, what makes you think these folks will come to you?  Wouldn't you need to market your services?  Clearly if you are competitive in price/service perhaps they would come, but .... wow if you have clients who do not confirm to your beliefs but WANT your services, you have done really well.

So, why not increase your price?  Why not put them in a longer line (got too much to do, probably can get this project started in 6 months!).

I think you are correct, such legislation does smack of a problem.  I am surprised that the constitutionally provided protection can't be applied.

God bless and good luck in handling your challenge.