An 84-year-old widow of a World War II veteran has been told by the state of California to either cease hosting Bible studies or face eviction from her home.
For the past nine years Artis Breau has been living at the California Veterans Home in Yountville. For many of those years she had volunteered in the chaplaincy program and hosted voluntary Bible studies.
The key word here, folks, is voluntary.
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Last September a resident took issue with Mrs. Breau’s beliefs about heaven and hell. The resident reportedly accused her of elder abuse and emotional abuse.
Her volunteer status was suspended pending an investigation, but she was still permitted to host Bible studies.
But that changed on March 1 when Mrs. Breau was told she would be evicted from her home unless she stopped leading Bible studies.
The California Veterans Home claims it needs to protect residents from this elderly widow, even though attendance at her Bible studies is entirely voluntary, Pacific Justice Institute alleges.
Pacific Justice Institute, a law firm that specializes in religious liberty cases, is representing Mrs. Breau. They believe that some of the other chaplains are upset because she is an evangelical Jewish believer in Christ.
PJI founder Brad Dacus was a guest on the Todd Starnes Radio Show last week. He said they plan on considering every legal option available to help the World War II widow.
“No one should have to surrender their religious beliefs when they live in a veterans home,” Dacus said. “It’s important that her rights are not infringed upon by a hostile government.”
Mrs. Breau served as a civilian employee at the Pentagon during the Korean War and her husband served as a Merchant Marine during World War II. It’s not clear where she would go should she be evicted from the home.
“CalVet’s treatment of this widow is shameful,” Pacific Justice Institute attorney Matthew McReynolds said.
He said they are deeply disturbed that veterans home leaders believe ‘Discussing religious views on the eternal state of the soul is somehow elder abuse or emotional abuse.”
“Our client’s husband fought for his country to preserve the freedoms now being threatened by CalVet,” McReynolds said. “Our veterans deserve better.”