Court Urged to Uphold State Scholarship Rules
A coalition of liberal groups has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a Washington state policy that prohibits state scholarships from being used for theological studies.
The four groups -- the American Civil Liberties Union, People for the American Way, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund -- said a student’s religious freedom rights are not violated under the policy.
The high court agreed May 19 to hear an appeal after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last July that state officials were wrong to deny Joshua Davey a $1,125 state scholarship to pursue a theology degree from a college affiliated with the Assemblies of God.
The Washington state policy allowed scholarships for other majors such as business but not religious studies.
The appeals court said the state policy infringed on Davey’s constitutional right to exercise his religion.
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