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Suit Challenges Refusal of College To Rent Space To Chuch

By Howard M. Friedman

Alliance Defense Fund has announced that a federal lawsuit was filed Monday against Broome Community College in Binghampton, NY. The College has refused to continue renting space in one of its buildings to North Pointe Church for weekly religious meetings. Even though space is rented to other groups, the College terminated the church's rental agreement after objections were lodged by a few individuals who had seen an ad for the church's meetings. The complaint (full text) in North Pointe Church v. Moppert, (ND NY, filed 2/23/2009) alleges that for the first time, after these objections, the College told plaintiff of its policy that prohibits the use of campus facilities for "religious services or observances . . . for the benefit of the general public." The complaint alleges that the College's treatment of the Church violates the speech, free exercise and establishment clauses of the 1st Amendment and the due process and equal protection provisions of the 14th Amendment.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 25, 2009 (boomark / email).