I do not live in California. Public tax dollars in California have been used at Hastings College of the Law, part of the University of California, to support student groups as long as the groups do not discriminate. In the past this has included the Christian Legal Society chapter at Hastings when the society adhered to the rules. If I paid taxes in California, I would do everything in my power to prevent my tax dollars from being used to support this or any other religious group or a group promoting atheism or agnosticism.
But now the Christian Legal Society has gone one step further and chooses to deny membership to people people who do not share the society's religious beliefs or are gay. The society is suing and the case has now reached the Supreme Court. See A Case of Discrimination, an editorial in The New York Times.
A federal court and by unanimous consent a federal appeals court has ruled in favor of the college. Today the Supreme Court will hear the case. Now the Supreme Court does not hear every case brought before it. Only those cases judged to have merit by at least one of the justices is heard. (I don't remember the rules).
How can any justice believe this case has merit. Worse how can the so called liberal newspaper, The Washington Post in the editorial Politically correct, legally wrong supports the society's position.
I wonder if the editorial writers remember The First Amendment which says:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
When a state gives money to a group that discriminates against people of other religions establishes a "state supported" religion is a violation of the First Amendment. To use tax dollars is an abomination. I see the demand by many religious groups that tax dollars not be used to support abortion as morally destructive, reprehensible, . . . But this is worse.
I cannot imagine the Supreme Court hearing such a case. Yet, they are. Worse they may rule that your tax dollars can be spent to support religious groups.
Yes I know federal money is given to religious groups to support the groups doing good deeds like giving shelter to the homeless. But, the groups are not allowed to evangelize or discriminate. The Supreme Court could change this, much like declaring corporations citizens.