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Advocacy Blog
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Lawsuit Settled Challenging Government Funding of Faith-Based Job Training Program
The state of Pennsylvania and civil liberties groups settled a lawsuit that challenged government funding of a faith-based job training program at a county jail. The settlement requires that state officials do not use public funds to support religious activities, that tax-funded programs will not religiously discriminate against program participants, and that the state will monitor the program activities to ensure there are no violations. The lawsuit filed in 2005, charged that federal funding of the Firm Foundation's training program violates the Establishment Clause, and the religious-freedom provisions of the Pennsylvania Constitution. The program reportedly proselytized inmates, pressured them to participate in prayer, and hired only Christians as employees. The agreement is similar to one reached in a case between the ACLU of Massachusetts and an abstinence education program called the Silver Ring Thing. This case again forces the question of what, if any, religious activities the government can fund without becoming government endorsement of religion. Read the Associated Press story here.
Posted by Amanda Adams
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