Appropriation to Religious College Held To Violate Kentucky's Blaine Amendment

A Franklin, Kentucky Circuit Court judge yesterday ruled that the state legislature acted unconstitutionally when it appropriated $10 million for a pharmacy school building at University of the Cumberlands, a private Southern Baptist university. Judge Roger Crittenden ruled that the appropriation violated a Blaine Amendment provision in the state's constitution. Sec. 189 of the Kentucky constitution prohibits public funds from being appropriated to aid any sectarian school. The decision did not reach the question of whether the University also acted unconstitutionally in expelling a student who stated on his website that he is gay. Yesterday's Lexington Herald-Leader and the AP reported on the decision. (See prior related posting.)