Settlement Reached In Suit Alleging Proselytizing of Clients By Salvation Army

The New York Civil Liberties Union yesterday announced a settlement agreement relating to part of the claims in Lown v. Salvation Army. In 2005 (see prior posting), a New York federal district court permitted a taxpayer's suit to proceed challenging the alleged use of government social service funds by the Salvation Army to proselytize clients. Under the settlement, six governmental agencies in New York City, Long Island and New York state have adopted auditing procedures or standards of conduct that will be used to monitor the Salvation Army to make sure it does not force clients in need of government-funded social services to also attend religious worship or instruction. The NYCLU will receive regular reports from the agencies, and the court will maintain jurisdiction over the agreement for two years to make sure it is enforced.