Wis. school district charges fees to Christian groups, not others

MADISON, Wis. — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund filed suit against the Sun Prairie Area School District Wednesday on behalf of Open Door Church of Sun Prairie.  The lawsuit challenges the district’s policy that charges religious groups fees for using public school facilities while giving non-religious community groups a free ride.

“Christian groups shouldn’t be penalized for their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman.  “Requiring a Christian community group to pay fees for using public school facilities while waiving fees for non-religious groups is clearly discriminatory and unconstitutional.”

Because Open Door Church’s Awana Club performs primarily religious functions, it is required under the school district’s policy to pay rental fees—payments other non-religious groups are not asked to pay.

“Government-run schools cannot single out Christian groups for discrimination simply because they are religious,” said ADF Litigation Counsel Joshua Bolinger.  “The school district should not be allowed to treat community groups with non-religious viewpoints more favorably than groups with religious viewpoints.”

ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.