Law & Courts News in Brief

Court Backs N.Y.C. Ban on Religious Services

By Mark Walsh — April 15, 2014 1 min read
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A federal appeals court, ruling for the sixth time in a long-running case over weekend church services in public schools, has upheld the New York City school system’s rules against opening its facilities to such worship services.

A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 this month against the Bronx Household of Faith, a congregation that has been battling since 1994 over its efforts to hold services in a public school.

In the latest ruling, the 2nd Circuit majority said the First Amendment’s “free-exercise clause does not entitle Bronx Household to a grant from the [New York City district] of a subsidized place to hold religious worship services.”

A version of this article appeared in the April 16, 2014 edition of Education Week as Court Backs N.Y.C. Ban on Religious Services

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