The publishing arm of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) had its remarketing ads disabled by Google for violating company policy. Remarketing ads are aimed at people who have already visited a website online or via a mobile app. 

After receiving notice of the decision, Concordia Publishing House (CPH) contacted Google and was told “remarketing ads based on religious beliefs were not allowed.”  

A statement on the CPH website said further reviews and discussions led to the internet giant saying CPH could remove all items referring to Jesus or the Bible, or use a different type of advertising product.

CPH President and CEO Dr. Bruce G. Kintz said it clearly doesn’t agree with Google’s decision and is not willing to sacrifice its beliefs to comply.

“It’s no secret that society is becoming increasingly hostile to the Christian faith,” Kintz 

said. “This increasing hostility makes our mission of proclaiming that faith through the books, Bibles, and curriculum that we produce all the more important.”

Based in St. Louis, the LCMS has more than 2.3 million members and 6,100 churches. The smaller Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod issued a statement of support for CPH on its Facebook page.