The Association of Faith Based Organizations Seeks to Intervene in California Case to Protect Christian Higher Education
The CLS Center and the Association of Faith- Based Organizations ("AFBO") have filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit brought against California Lutheran High School ("CLHS") by the families of two female students who were expelled for allegedly engaging in lesbian conduct in violation of the school's code of conduct. The families claim that CLHS is in violation of California's Unruh Act, which includes sexual orientation as a protected status in employment and public accommodations. The students are asking the court to award them monetary damages and to prohibit the school from banning homosexual activity. AFBO is seeking to intervene in the case on behalf of AFBO's member Christian schools to argue that the Constitution permits the schools to establish religious admissions criteria and rules of conduct for their students.
This case will have important implications for the future of religious schools across the country. Please pray that the court will uphold religious liberty in the case of Doe v. California Lutheran High School Association. The motion, filed by CLS and ADF attorneys in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Riverside, can be viewed at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/.pdf.
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 Puts Religious Employers at Risk
The CLS Center and Professor Thoms Berg of the University of St. Thomas School of Law have submitted testimony to the House of Representatives opposing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007, H.R. 2015, which would amend federal employment non-discrimination laws to include "sexual orientation" as a protected status.
The House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions held a hearing today (September 5, 2007) to examine the proposed bill and the scope of its religious exemption. Professor Berg and CLS expressed strong concern that the exemption for religious organizations, which has been substantially narrowed from previous versions of the bill, does not sufficiently protecct religious organizations such as charities, schools and ministries which seek to hire persons who adhere to and live out a biblical standard of sexual conduct. "Laws that prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation must be accompanied by meaningful exemptions to protect employers, especially religious organizations, whose religious conscience and tenets teach that homosexual conduct is immoral," Professor Berg urged.
A copy of CLS and Professor Berg's written testimony is available here.
2007 CLS National Conference
We hope to see you at the Christian Legal Society National Conference. It will be a great weekend of fellowship, learning and fun. CLE credit will be available for seminars addressing religious liberty and the sanctity of life.
November 1-4, 2007
Hilton Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort
Destin, Florida
Click here for more information
The Center for Law & 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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