Michigan Senate Says Theology Students Should Retain State Scholarships
by Jim Brown
January 22, 2004
(AgapePress) - Students could major in theology and still qualify for state scholarships under bills that have passed the Michigan Senate.The bills, which now go to the Michigan House, would allow state scholarship recipients to major in theology, divinity, or religious education without losing their money. Currently under Michigan law, students seeking a degree in those areas of study are ineligible for the competitive scholarships.
Attorney Pat Gillen, who is with the Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center, is representing Teresa Becker -- a student at Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti who sued state officials for revoking her financial aid because she chose a theology major. Gillen says the lawsuit raised some eyebrows.
"The attention brought to the legislation by Teresa Becker's case made some people sit back and look at why, in heaven's name, any state would have an interest in penalizing a student because they decided to study religion," the attorney says. "Thankfully, it looks like the Michigan Senate is going to get the ball rolling in terms of changing that invidious discrimination."
At issue, of course, is the constitutionality of allowing religious majors to be state financial aid. Opponents claim state scholarships for theology students violate the so-called "separation of Church and State."
Gillen says regardless of the outcome in Michigan, state legislatures must act. "It's very necessary for state legislatures to remove these onerous restrictions so that a student isn't faced with a situation where [he or she] could actually be deprived of their rights and not know it," he says.
Becker's case has been stayed until the U.S. Supreme Court issues its ruling in a similar case, Locke v. Davey. A ruling in that case is expected by the end of June.
