Court: MD Christian school’s religious discrimination lawsuit may continue

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Christiana Holcomb regarding a federal court’s denial Thursday of Maryland officials’ motion to dismiss Bethel Ministries v. Salmon, filed by a church-run school. ADF attorneys filed the lawsuit in June after Maryland revoked the Baltimore-area school’s eligibility to participate in a voucher program benefiting low-income students and demanded the school pay back more than $100,000 for its previous participation in the program:

“The government may not discriminate against religious schools simply because it dislikes their religious beliefs. We’re pleased that the court has rejected Maryland’s attempt to shut down this case. Bethel Christian Academy offers an academically rigorous and caring Christian education in a diverse environment, but Maryland has refused to play by its own rules, expelled Bethel from a neutral government voucher program without just cause, and demanded the repayment of over $100,000—money that empowered the education of low-income students. Maryland’s families deserve better; that’s why we’re grateful Bethel’s lawsuit can move forward.”