CENTER ATTORNEYS CONTINUE TO DEFEND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
Attorneys at the CLS Center for Law & Religious Freedom continue to fight for religious liberty on behalf of Christian student groups on college and university campuses. The Center currently represents student organizations at Arizona State University, the University of California, Southern Illinois University, the University of Toledo, and Penn State University in litigation against school officials.
Christian Legal Society v. Arizona State University
CLS Center attorneys filed suit against Arizona State University (ASU) on behalf of the Christian Legal Society (CLS) chapter at ASU in November 2004 to fight for the CLS chapter’s constitutional right to select members and leaders who agree with and endeavor to live in accordance with the CLS “Statement of Faith.” This case, which is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, is in the midst of discovery. Center attorneys Steven H. Aden and M. Casey Mattox took depositions in Arizona the week of May 16, and the discovery period will end at the beginning of June. The judge will hold a hearing on the merits of this case on August 5.
Christian Legal Society v. University of California, Hastings College of Law
In October 2004, the Center commenced litigation against the University of California, Hastings College of Law (Hastings). Hastings officials refused to recognize the university’s Christian Legal Society (CLS) chapter on the ground that the CLS chapter will not agree to accept members and officers who openly oppose their Christian beliefs. On May 20, a gay, lesbian, and bisexual student group at Hastings filed a motion to intervene, asserting it has a direct and substantial interest in the outcome of this case. Center attorney Timothy J. Tracey is scheduled to present oral argument in opposition to the group’s motion to intervene on July 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division.
Christian Legal Society v. Southern Illinois University
The CLS Center filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Southern Illinois University (SIU) officials in April 2005 for revoking its Christian Legal Society (CLS) chapter’s registered status. SUI will no longer recognize the CLS chapter because the chapter requires its members and officers to affirm the group’s religious beliefs, which the university claims is in violation of the university policies prohibiting discrimination. The university’s response to the complaint is due on June 8. CLS v. SIU is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Christian Legal Society v. University of Toledo
The CLS Center filed a lawsuit against the University of Toledo (Toledo) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in March 2005. The lawsuit arose when school officials refused to recognize the Christian Legal Society (CLS) chapter at Toledo because the chapter will not remove references to the Bible from its constitution or commit to abide by the religion, creed, and sexual orientation portions of the university’s “non-discrimination” policy. Shortly after CLS Center attorneys filed the lawsuit, Toledo officials agreed to recognize the CLS chapter, informed the chapter it is permitted to refer to the Bible in its chapter constitution, and acknowledged religious student groups are exempt from the university’s non-discrimination policy. Attorneys for both parties are working out the settlement details, and we are hopeful that it will become final within the next few weeks.
DiscipleMakers v. Penn State University
In October 2004, the CLS Center filed a lawsuit against Penn State University (Penn State) on behalf of DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship (DiscipleMakers). The lawsuit came about after Penn State refused to grant DiscipleMakers and other religious student groups an exemption from its non-discrimination policy. By failing to provide the group with an exemption from the policy, the university prevented DiscipleMakers from selecting leaders that agree with and endeavor to live according to the group’s Christian beliefs. This case tentatively settled in March 2005 after a mediation. Penn State officials agreed to revise its non-discrimination policy by August 1 in accordance with the Center’s demands. DiscipleMakers v. Penn State University is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The Alliance Defense Fund continues to financially support the Center’s work on behalf of university students. For more information regarding each of these university cases, you may visit www.clsnet.org or www.campusfreedom.org.
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