Christian college to appeal denial of student aid
Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Colorado Christian University will appeal a federal court ruling that the state can withhold tution assistance to students because the school is "pervasively sectarian."
In a prepared statement released today, CCU president William Armstrong said the state policy discriminates against people "if they want to attend a seriously religious school." He cited the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of freedom of religion, Armstrong said.
Federal District Court Judge Marcia Krieger upheld the state's policy May 18.
State higher education director David Skaggs said, "The Department of Higher Education and the Commission on Higher Education believe the district court decided this case properly on the facts and the law. We will vigorously defend the district court decision on appeal through the offices of the Colorado attorney general."
CCU sued after the higher education commission ruled in 2004 that the school's students are not eligible for tuition aid. The Colorado Constitution bars aid to religious schools.
Other church-affliated schools, including Regis University and the University of Denver, participate in the aid program. Those schools separate secular instruction from religion, the CCHE held.
CCU requires prayer and courses in theology. The students and
trustees are mostly of a single religion, the CCHE noted.
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