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Suit Challenges Room Use Rules In Ohio Library

By Howard Friedman

On Friday, the Alliance Defense Fund announced that it had filed a federal lawsuit against the trustees of the Upper Arlington (Ohio) Library challenging the Library's refusal to permit its meeting rooms to be used for a program sponsored by a non-profit group, Citizens For Community Values, Inc. (CFCV). Library rules permit meeting rooms to be used for cultural activities, and for discussion of public questions and social issues. However, rooms may not be used for commercial, religious or political meetings. Committees affiliated with a church are allowed to use the rooms, but not for religious services. CFCV wanted to use the room for a program titled "Politics in the Pulpit". The Library ruled that since a portion of the program involved prayer and religious song, it was not permitted under the Library rules. The complaint (full text) alleges that the Library's refusal violates the free speech, free exercise, due process and equal protection clauses of the U.S. constitution as well as the free exercise clause of Ohio's constitution.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 08, 2008 (boomark / email).