wfn.org | Adventist Church Argues in U.S. Supreme Court For "Fundamental

[BeckettJ@gc.adventist.org]

Fairness"

Adventist News Network
Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters
November 28, 2000
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Adventist Church Argues in U.S. Supreme Court For "Fundamental Fairness"
Washington, D.C., USA .... [Bettina Krause]
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An organization should not be denied the use of public facilities simply
because it is a religious group, say lawyers arguing on behalf of the "Good
News Club" in a case currently pending in the United States Supreme Court.

"This is a significant case for the hundreds of small church groups and
clubs around the country that currently hold meetings or events in public
schools and halls," says Mitchell Tyner, an associate in the Office of
General Counsel for the Adventist Church worldwide.  "Where do these groups
go if they can't afford their own facilities and they are denied access to
their usual meeting places?"

The Good News Club dispute was sparked by the refusal of Milford Central
School, located in New York State, to allow a Christian youth group to use
school facilities for after-hours meetings.  

Tyner says that the Adventist Church became involved in the case as an
amici, or "friend of the court," because it believes that religious groups
have the right to be treated with "fundamental fairness" in the public
sphere; to have access to public facilities on the same basis as other
groups. 

"The implications of this case go beyond the mere issue of using school
property," explains Tyner. "As a church, we have long supported the
constitutional principle that the state should not endorse religious
activity, either explicitly or implicitly.  But, on the other hand, we also
believe that this principle does not mandate state hostility toward
religious groups." 

Lawyers for the Good News Club argue that it is unfair to deny religious
groups access to buildings and facilities that have been funded by taxpayers
and that are available to other community groups. 

"These religious groups have as much right as other taxpayers to use the
facilities," says Adventist attorney Nicholas Miller.  Miller, who co-wrote
the amicus brief filed in support of the Good News Club, adds that,  "As
long as the religious programs are not sponsored or promoted by the state,
and the religious groups do not receive preferred treatment over other
groups," there is no danger that the government is "establishing" religion,
thus contravening the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The Court is expected to hear argument in the case within the next 90 days
and an outcome is likely before July 1, 2001.
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Contact Information: 
Communication Department
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600

Phone: 301-680-6300
e-mail: adventistnews@compuserve.com
web: http://www.adventist.org/