Earlier this week we brought you news of a restaurant adding more money to patrons’ bills as a “minimum wage fee.” Well, another restaurant came under fire this week for what it was adding––or in this case, subtracting––from bills. Mary’s Gourmet Diner in North Carolina was giving customers a 15 percent discount for praying in public, but they stopped doing it after they got threatened with a lawsuit.

The diner’s discount went viral after a radio station shared this picture on their Facebook page.

Obviously, not all of the feedback was positive, so diner owner Mary Haglund posted on Facebook in response, clearing things up about this supposed policy.

It’s a gift we give at random to customers who take a moment before their meal. This could be prayer or just a moment to breathe & push the busyness of the world away. Who you talk to or meditate on etc. is your business. I have lived in a 3rd world country, there are people starving. We live in a country with an abundance of beautiful food. I NEVER take that for granted. It warms my heart to see people with an attitude of gratitude. Prayer, meditation or just breathing while being grateful opens the heart chakra. It’s good for everyone!!!!

The Freedom from Religion Foundation sent a letter to the diner, charging that such a discount is in violation of the Civil Rights Act. And so, as a result, this sign was posted at the diner:

Sign posted at Mary's Gourmet Diner. Just spoke to co-owner who says her heart is broken @WFMY #WinstonSalem pic.twitter.com/W2e20wMk5g — Morgan Hightower (@mchightower) August 6, 2014

[h/t Newsday]

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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