Supreme Court rules against Christian student group that ‘discriminated’ against gays

June 29, 2010

In a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled on June 28 that the University of California Hastings College of the Law may deny recognition to a Christian organization that does not permit gays and lesbians to hold leadership positions.

While all are welcome to attend Christian Legal Society meetings, voting membership and leadership in the organization are restricted by the following provision of the organization’s statement of faith:

a person who advocates or unrepentantly engages in sexual conduct outside of marriage between a man and a woman is not considered to be living consistently with the Statement of Faith and, therefore, is not eligible for leadership or voting membership …[a] person's mere experience of same-sex or opposite-sex sexual attraction does not determine his or her eligibility for leadership or voting membership.

“The court arms public educational institutions with a handy weapon for suppressing the speech of unpopular groups,” wrote Justice Samuel Alito, who described the ruling as “a serious setback for freedom of expression.” Justice Alito was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Antonin Scalia, and Justice Clarence Thomas in dissenting from the Court’s decision.

 

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Further information:

• Court denies Christian group's suit of Hastings (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Advocates International statement
• U.S. Supreme Court Rules Gay, Diversity Rights Override Religious Freedom (LifeSiteNews.com)