Attorney to Colleges: Use Common Sense When Dealing with Christian Clubs
by Jim Brown
June 20, 2005
(AgapePress) - A federal lawsuit has prompted an Ohio university to relent in its discrimination against a Christian student group. The chapter of the Christian Legal Society (CLS) at the University of Toledo has been granted official recognition after being initially denied access to funding and meeting space on campus.The university had originally refused to renew the registered status of the group, alleging its requirement that club members and officers adhere to a statement of Christian faith violated the school's non-discrimination policy. But after CLS filed suit against the school, the university changed its mind and agreed to recognize the group.
CLS litigation counsel Tim Tracey says now that a settlement has been reached with the University of Toledo, the campus CLS chapter feels vindicated.
"It is the University of Toledo recognizing that Christian student groups have a First Amendment right to define their membership requirements," Tracey explains, "and what they have said is that their nondiscrimination policy does not prohibit religious student groups from selecting their officers and members on the basis of religion."
CLS has won similar legal battles this past year at Ohio State University, Penn State University, and Washburn University. Tracey says he hopes the settlement victory at the four colleges will cause other schools that are currently discriminating against CLS clubs to rethink their actions.
"All of these university cases should send a signal to Southern Illinois and [Univ. of California at] Hastings and [Arizona State University] that it really makes sense to let Christian student groups select their leaders and members on the basis of Christian beliefs," the attorney says. "It's really just common sense."
According to Tracey, officials with the University of Toledo have assured him the campus CLS chapter will be allowed to abide by its Christian principles.
Rusty Pugh, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
