A Federal court dismissed a lawsuit yesterday afternoon against the Northwest Marriage Institute, a faith-based social service provider, for receiving federal grants from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Institute for Youth Development.  The lawsuit was brought by thirteen taxpayers who argued NMI’s religious nature excluded them from participation in these government programs under the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.  Attorneys with the Christian Legal Society intervened on behalf of the Institute for Youth Development, which provided funding to NMI.  The case, Christianson v. O. Leavitt, was brought in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Tacoma Division, No. 06-5520.

Yesterday’s order upheld the Supreme Court’s stand that institutions are not prohibited from participation in social welfare programs simply because of their religious mission.  The Judge also stated that a religious organization such as NMI, existing to provide resources and counseling to support healthy marriages, serves as a benefit to society regardless of religious affiliation.