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Christian school gets OK to sue UC system

A Murrieta Christian school can proceed with a lawsuit against the University of California system over rejection of some of its classes as prerequisites for college admission, court papers show.

Calvary Chapel Christian School and the Association of Christian Schools International allege the “Christian viewpoint” in some of the school's classes – including science, English and history – keeps the courses, and by extension the school's students, from meeting minimum UC admissions requirements.

The plaintiffs, including six students, accuse the 10-campus UC system of discrimination, and of violating their First Amendment rights.

In a 25-page order, Los Angeles-based U.S. District Judge S. James Otero denied the state's request to dismiss the case.

Otero found that if the plaintiffs are correct in their claims that the courses were rejected solely because they contained religious viewpoints, “such action would run afoul of the limits of defendants' freedom to determine its admissions policies.”

“Plaintiffs have adequately shown that they have been put to the choice between providing and taking courses that promote a biblical moral view or complying with the UC's a-g course requirements,” Otero wrote.

The suit, filed last August, alleges the university system sent a form letter to Christian high schools, informing them that two popular Christian biology textbooks are “not consistent with the viewpoints and knowledge generally accepted in the scientific community.”

“As such, students who take these courses may not be prepared for success if/when they enter science courses/programs at UC,” the letter states.

The UC system also rejected a Calvary school history course, “Christianity's Influence on American History,” and an English course, “Christianity and Morality in American Literature,” as not meeting requirements, according to court papers.

A representative for the UC system could not be reached for comment on the judge's ruling, which allows the suit to proceed in federal court in Los Angeles.

But Bradley S. Phillips, an attorney for the UC system, told the Daily Journal yesterday that he plans to “vigorously defend this case. On the merits, we will demonstrate in court that the plaintiffs don't have a claim.”