Is it legal for a church-owned apartment complex to refuse rentals to non-Baptists?

The correct answer highlights that a church-owned apartment complex can indeed refuse rentals to individuals based on their religious affiliation, as long as they do not engage in discrimination against protected classes such as race, color, national origin, or familial status. Religious organizations are often allowed to operate within certain exemptions that permit them to prioritize members of their faith for communal living situations.

This understanding is rooted in the Fair Housing Act, which generally prohibits discrimination in housing but provides certain allowances for religious organizations. The law recognizes the unique position of religious institutions, permitting them to maintain certain practices that align with their belief systems, as long as they are compliant with broader anti-discriminatory laws that prohibit bias on the basis of protected characteristics.

The context here is crucial: organizations cannot use religious justification to discriminate in ways that infringe upon the rights of individuals from those protected classes. Therefore, while they can prioritize their own faith members, this must be done carefully to ensure it complies with fair housing regulations.