CENTER FILES SUIT AGAINST CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN OFFICIALS
On March 31, Christian Legal Society's Center for Law & Religious Freedom
filed a civil rights lawsuit
against officials who denied
religious groups access to the state's employee charitable campaign.
Like the federal government and many states, Wisconsin facilitates donations by its
employees to charitable organizations. In order to participate in the campaign,
charities must pledge not to discriminate in employment on the basis of, among
other things, religion and sexual orientation.
In 2005, Christian Legal Society sought access to the Wisconsin campaign. In a letter accompanying its
application, CLS explained that it requires employees to profess faith in
Christ. The letter also explained CLS's commitment to historic Christian sexual
ethics. Wisconsin officials rejected CLS's application.
The CLS Center filed suit on behalf of the Association of Faith-Based Organizations (AFBO), a group of religious
organizations dedicated to protecting the freedom of religious organizations to
staff on a religious basis.
The case is Association of Faith-Based Organizations v. Bablitch, and
was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Joining the CLS Center in representing AFBO are Waukesha attorney Michael D. Dean and attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund.
CENTER DIRECTOR SPEAKS AT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FORUM
Center Director Gregory S. Baylor recently spoke at an International
Forum convened by the Council
for Christian Colleges & Universities. Held in Dallas, the Forum attracted almost 1300 people.
Baylor participated
in a workshop entitled “Government Relations & Christian Higher
Education” along with CCCU President Robert C. Andringa and Sarah Flanagan, Vice
President for Government Relations and Policy for the National Association of
Independent Colleges and Universities.
Baylor also participated in a workshop entitled “Christian Colleges,
State-Funded Aid and the Current Church-State Legal Climate in North America”
along with Larry Donnithorne, president of Colorado Christian University; Claude
Pressnell, president of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities
Association; and John D. Basie, Dean of Enrollment Management at Columbia
International University.
Baylor has served on the CCCU board of directors since 2003, and was recently
re-appointed to a second three-year term.
The Center for Law and Religious Freedom is the advocacy ministry of the
Christian Legal Society, which is the professional association founded in
1961 of Christian attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and friends
throughout the United States.
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