AU: Hails Settlement In Case Challenging Religious Content At Calif.

[and-justice-for-all]

Americans United Hails Settlement In Case Challenging Religious Content At Calif. Community College Events

Watchdog Group Says It Is Pleased With Fair Settlement That Ends Litigation In Orange County Legal Dispute
April 7, 2011

Americans United for Separation of Church and State yesterday announced that an out-of-court settlement has been reached in a lawsuit challenging prayer and other religious presentations at events sponsored by a Southern California community college.

The settlement brings an end to a legal challenge filed in November of 2009 by Americans United on behalf of several students and faculty at the South Orange County Community College District.

“I’m pleased that we have reached a fair settlement in this case,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Public community colleges should respect the religious and philosophical rights of all faculty, staff members and students, and I believe today’s settlement provides a framework to do that.”

Plaintiffs asserted that school officials routinely sponsored official invocations at events for students and faculty at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, including scholarship-award ceremonies, commencements and Chancellor's Opening Sessions (training programs for faculty).

Read the full press release at www.au.org