Christian college claims discrimination in grants

Christian college claims discrimination in grants
Generic awards given to students attending anywhere but this school

A court ruling that a generic state college grant isn't available if you go to a particular Christian college will be appealed to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the school said.

Former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong, R-Colo., now president of Colorado Christian University, said the decision from federal district court that the school is "pervasively sectarian" so students do not qualify for state grant programs is just wrong.

"This is blatant religious discrimination," Armstrong told WND, as well as a violation of the 1st and 14th Amendments.

U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Krieger has ruled that the state constitution forbids the use of state funds to support religious schools, declaring the ban imposed on CCU by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education "is narrowly tailored to accomplish the state's compelling interest in complying with the anti-establishment clause of its own constitution."

However, the U.S. Supreme Court, Armstrong said, has rejected the use of categorizations such as "pervasively sectarian," and it should not be used.

"We believe that Judge Krieger wrongly decided the case. The issue actually is a very simple one," Armstrong said. "Colorado has established a series of tuition programs for Colorado students. Any student who is otherwise qualified can get money to attend Colorado College, a private school, the University of Colorado, automotive and diesel schools, art schools, or any number of other schools."

Included in those options are two other religious schools, Regis University and the University of Denver. "The glaring exception is Colorado Christian University," said Armstrong.

The "pervasively sectarian" standard was written into the state's law when the programs were created several years back. It comes from the state constitution, a provision that predates U.S. Supreme Court rulings on the issue, Armstrong said.

The school, which is fully accredited to offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in education, business, music, the sciences, counseling and other majors, said its students suffer discrimination in the state procedures.

Even the U.S. Department of Justice submitted an amicus brief on behalf of CCU's position, Armstrong said. He said the state of Colorado also provides other laws that do not contain that standard and so allow Christian schools, for example, to issue tax-exempt bonds.

It is the student being subsidized through the programs, not the school, he said, raising the question about why students because they choose a Christian school would be banned from such programs.

"Judge Marcia S. Krieger's decision is a setback for the students involved and for religious liberty. In our opinion, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education is violating the religious liberty and equal protection provisions of the U.S. Constitution," Armstrong said.

CCU filed the lawsuit over the CCHE's actions in 2004 as a result of legislation establishing a series of state-funded college tuition grants for Colorado students.

Armstrong served in the U.S. House from 1972-1978 and then in the U.S. Senate from 1978-1990. He's led several investment, mortgage and software companies as well as a leading oil and gas drilling contractor. He's a member of the board of directors for Campus Crusade for Christ.

CCHE chief David Skaggs said he was pleased with the ruling because it affirms "sound principles of Colorado law."