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Penn State Settles Suit: Will Permit Biblical Reference On Alumni Brick

By Howard Friedman

The Alliance Defense Fund announced yesterday that it had reached a settlement in a lawsuit it had filed against Penn State University challenging its refusal to place a Biblical reference on personalized brick purchased by an alumnus. Last year, to raise funds the University offered alumni bricks and stone pavers that would be placed on the university?s new Alumni Walk. The $250 brick could be inscribed with three lines of copy. Alum James Pursley requested that his brick carry his name, his graduation year and the notation "Joshua 24:15". The University rejected his order because of its policy against permitting religious messages. Pursley then filed suit alleging that the rejection violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. (Full text of complaint in Pursley v. Pennsylvania State University, (MD PA, filed 12/12/07).) ADF says that under the settlement, the school will now permit the Biblical reference.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 01, 2008 (boomark / email).