Can a public university deny funding to a Christian student group if the group refuses to allow gay students to vote or take on leadership roles? That's the question being asked in the case coming before the U.S. Supreme Court: Christian Legal Society v. Martinez. In the case, the University of California's Hastings College of the Law's chapter of the Christian Legal Society was told it would be not recognized by the school if it did allow gay members to join, vote and take on leadership roles in the group. CLS is suing the school in a First Amendment case that goes before the Supreme Court on Monday.
We talk with Greg Baylor, a senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, the group providing the defense for CLS. We also talk with Paul Smith, the lead attorney representing Hastings Outlaw, a gay rights group at the school which is also part of the case.
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Comments [8]
If Hastings College wins this, then College Democrats must allow Republicans to be officers. Progressives would have to allow conservatives to gain officers' positions. LGBT clubs would have to allow abstinent Christians to serve as prez, VP, secretary, and treasurer.
Think about it!
I find it ironic that a Christian legal organization can claim discrimination and unfair treatment for not having the right to discriminate. All the while making some similar arguments about equality of all and the right to freedom of identity, including the right to be recognized for who they are. These are the same arguments that members of the gay, lesbian, and transgendered community have been arguing for years in the general public concerning rights and freedom from non-discrimination in the workplace, the right to marriage, adoption, to serve openly in the military, etc. There are many gay churches and Christian groups who can make the valid argument that you can be Christian and Gay.
To acquiant white supremacy with Homosexuality, is offensive in so many
ways.....
Maggie from New York wrote:
"By the same token, when are they going to start making religious organisations pay tax." My view on this is churches, religious groups and other tax-excempt groups should give back to their community in service in return for the tax break. This could be feeding the homeless, fixing seniors' homes that can't afford it, literacy programs, etc. The government cannot deal with all the problems on their own, that is why we have non-goverment organizations like Red Cross, Salvation Army and others who work daily to fill in the gaps, and I think all churches whether it is something small or big need to step in and this should be the pay back for tax free land, etc..
I get offended, when I hear false teaching of christ. I quote from the bible" why do you eat w/tax collectors and sinners? jesus said in reply, those who are healthy dom't need a physician, but sick do. (luke5:30-31). false doctrine will kill the church.
By the same token, when are they going to start making religious organisations pay tax. Let them spout their hate, just don't get public money for it, or tax breaks.
I advise an honor society on a small public campus and we do not receive school funding because we are exclusive. ANY group that discriminates, as we do, should not receive school funding when it is a public university--period.
They would no longer be Christian groups.
Fitting the pattern they would become gay group calling themselves Christian while rejecting the very faith they seek to be included in.
It wouldn't be the first time a politcal group tried to eradicate a religious group through assimilation.
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