(RNS) — The American Humanist Affiliation is suing the West Virginia Water Improvement Authority to cease it from awarding a $5 million grant to a tiny out-of-state Catholic school, arguing that the grant violates the state structure’s freedom of faith provision.
Final yr, the water authority accepted a $5 million grant to the Steubenville, Ohio-based School of St. Joseph the Employee for the enlargement of its campus into neighboring West Virginia.
Based on the grant proposal, about $2.1 million would create an actual property, growth and development firm headquartered in Weirton, West Virginia, the place college students might study constructing trades. However about $1 million of the $5 million grant would help a suppose tank known as The Middle for the Widespread Good that advocates in opposition to abortion. And $1.6 million would go towards scholarships for the recruitment of West Virginia college students.
The American Humanist Affiliation, which has a chapter in West Virginia, says the grant violates the state structure, which says the state can not favor one faith over one other. The affiliation is represented within the lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the go well with Monday (Jan. 13) in Kanawha County Circuit Court docket.
“That the federal government would use tax {dollars}, particularly out of the water infrastructure fund, to fund a university that solely grants levels in Catholic research and makes clear that its mission is to develop trustworthy Christians is an affront to the Structure and an affront to West Virginians who are usually not Catholic,” mentioned Fish Stark, government director of American Humanist Affiliation, a gaggle that advocates for nonreligious People, together with atheists.
There are 236 native American Humanist Affiliation chapters throughout the nation, mentioned Stark. It might greatest be identified for certifying humanist chaplains and celebrants.
The lawsuit represents a pushback to a decades-long effort by a community of politicians, church officers and activists who consider that the separation of church and state is illegitimate.
Marie Prezioso, the manager director of the West Virginia Water Improvement Authority, declined to remark to RNS, saying that any statements will are available in public court docket filings or different public disclosures.
The West Virginia Structure has a strong institution clause. It says partly, “the Legislature shall not prescribe any non secular take a look at no matter, or confer any peculiar privileges or benefits on any sect or denomination, or move any legislation requiring or authorizing any non secular society, or the folks of any district inside this state, to levy on themselves, or others, any tax for the erection or restore of any home for public worship, or for the help of any church or ministry.”
Based on the lawsuit, West Virginia violated this provision.
“Tens of 1000’s of West Virginians marvel every single day the place they’ll get clear ingesting water,” Aubrey Sparks, the ACLU’s West Virginia authorized director, mentioned. “The School of St. Joseph the Employee has each proper to exist and to teach its college students in keeping with its non secular worldview, however to power the taxpayers of West Virginia to fund its mission is wholly inappropriate and unconstitutional.”
The web site for the school, which started holding lessons with 31 scholar this previous fall, says it “types college students into efficient and dedicated members of their communities by educating them the Catholic mental custom whereas coaching them in expert and dignified labor.” It provides one diploma: a Bachelor of Arts in Catholic research, and certification in carpentry, HVAC, electrical and plumbing. As of 2023, it had $860,00 in income and about $2.5 million in belongings, in accordance with its IRS 990 kind.
