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NEWS PROVIDED BY
Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance
Feb. 18, 2021
LAFAYETTE, Ind., Feb. 18, 2021 /Christian
Newswire/ -- Ratio
Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance announces it will act as intervening
defendants in support of a U.S. Department of Education regulation protecting
campus free speech against a lawsuit filed by American Atheists and Americans
United for Separation of Church and State.
The
lawsuit – brought on behalf of the Secular Student Alliance and one
California university student – claims that by ensuring that public universities
respect the First Amendment rights of religious groups on college campuses and
giving them the same benefits as other campus clubs, the Department of Education
somehow discriminates against students of other faiths and non-religious
students. The suit additionally takes issue with the rule, because it allows
club members to choose only leaders who share the same belief and mission of the
club. The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to
invalidate the new rule, which went into effect on November 23, 2020.
Ratio Christi (RC) is a Christian student ministry with chapters at many
colleges and universities. RC exists to equip students and faculty with
historical, philosophical, and scientific reasons for following Jesus. Although
the chapters allow full access to all students and membership is voluntary,
numerous schools have attempted to deny their chapters the right to choose
student leaders who agree with RC's mission. Thus, protecting free speech and
religious freedom on campus is vital to Ratio Christi. Dr. Corey Miller is
President/CEO of RC. He states:
"Freedom of religion and freedom of speech both imply
freedom of conscience. As a student-led club organization at over 125
universities, we are asking nothing more than to follow our freedom of
conscience in having students select from amongst themselves leaders who
agree with RC's fundamental religious commitments and the very basis of RC's
purpose – to equip students with intelligent reasons to follow Christ. We
believe in honest dialogue and in treating people well as people with
intrinsic dignity made in God's image. Defending freedom of conscience is
defending the foundational principles of our nation."
Miller adds, "By bringing this lawsuit against the Department of Education
rule, American Atheists and Americans United for Separation of Church and
State are in effect doing what they claim to oppose – discriminating against
the rights of certain religious students. Disagreement is not denigration.
Viewpoint diversity supports rather than undermines the goal of the
university, which is the pursuit of truth. Free speech presupposes cognitive
liberty."
Media representatives interested in the D.C. District Court
case of Secular Student Alliance and Declan A. Galli v. U.S. Department of
Education and Secretary of Education may contact ADF Media Relations at
(480) 444–0020 or
media@adflegal.org. If interested in interviewing Dr. Corey Miller about
Ratio Christi's ministry, reach him at 704-989-2752 or e-mail
info@ratiochristi.org.
SOURCE Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance
CONTACT: ADF Media Relations, 480-444–0020, media@adflegal.org;
Ratio Christi, 704-989-2752, info@ratiochristi.org