ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUNDVictory for Catholic student group: U.S. Supreme Court says no to U. of Wis. appeal 7th Circuit ruled in favor of Badger Catholic student group at U. of Wis.-Madison
Nico Fassino - Badger Catholic chairman
Monday, March 07, 2011
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined to hear the University of Wisconsin’s appeal of an appellate court ruling in favor of a Catholic student group at the university’s Madison campus.
“The constitutional rights of Christian student organizations should be recognized by university officials just as they recognize those rights for other student groups,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence. “The 7th Circuit’s decision was a good one for the constitutionally protected free speech rights of students, so the high court did the right thing in allowing it to stand. The university funded the advocacy and expression of other student organizations but singled out a Catholic student organization to exclude funding some of its expression based purely upon its religious content, and that’s simply not constitutional.”
In September 2010, the 7th Circuit ruled in Badger Catholic v. Walsh that University of Wisconsin-Madison officials violated the First Amendment by refusing to fund certain events of Badger Catholic, a registered student group, while providing funding for the events of other student organizations. The university refused funds from student activity fees because the student group’s events contained religious expression, including prayer, worship, and proselytization. The 7th Circuit affirmed lower court rulings that concluded the funding refusal amounted to unconstitutional discrimination based on viewpoint.
ADF filed suit after the university violated the terms of a settlement agreement reached in a previous lawsuit ADF filed on behalf of the same group when it was known as the Roman Catholic Foundation.
Great news, and no I didn't know of the student orgs name when naming my blog. It just so happens that great minds think alike.
HT V
5 comments:
What fantastic new! Hey? I've known of the great work of the Catholic student apostlate for many years and I couldn't be happier for them.
this is great! They have great things going on in Madison.
Also, I hate to sound like a jerk, but Mr. Fassino does not look like a Johny Wayne type by any means. Just sayin.
Anon, I'm not sure what you mean by Johny Wayne?
So proud of St. Paul's the Newman Center where I came home to the Church in college. It is a glorious place. Please pray for their two stellar pastors, enthusiastic and orthodox staff, and all the students at the UW.
BC, I think anon means he's not wearing a cowboy hat. I do think it's a pity most men don't wear hats anymore, too. :)
Post a Comment