7th Circuit: Illinois May Apply Education Laws To Bible Colleges

In Illinois Bible Colleges Association v. Anderson, (7th Cir., Aug. 29, 2017), the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected challenges to three Illinois statutes that require all colleges to obtain state approval before they may issue degrees.  Plaintiffs claimed that applying these statutes to Bible Colleges violates their 1st and 14th Amendment rights. The Court disagreed, saying;

[Plaintiffs] first argue the Illinois regulations violate the Establishment Clause by entangling the government with their religious operations. However, the plaintiffs have not sought ... approval from the State under the applicable statutes. Therefore, there is no basis to believe that the regulations would infringe on their religious beliefs or practices or would unnecessarily entangle the government in religion.... Likewise, the plaintiffs’ Free Exercise claim fails because the statutes are neutral laws of general application and apply equally to secular and religious institutions. The plaintiffs’ Equal Protection claim fares no better: While the state statutes exempt older educational institutions..., when no improper discrimination is involved, the government may include a grandfather clause in legislation without violating the guarantee of Equal Protection. Finally, the student-plaintiff alleges a violation of his right to practice a profession of his choice. But the regulations do not impact that choice. Rather, they merely determine whether he may obtain a degree from specific post-secondary institutions.

7th Circuit Hears Oral Arguments Over State Regulation of Bible Colleges

The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday heard oral arguments in Illinois Bible Colleges Association v. Anderson (audio of oral arguments).  In the case, an Illinois federal district court rejected constitutional challenges by a group of Bible Colleges to three Illinois statutes that regulate institutions of higher education in the state, including religiously-affiliated ones. (See prior posting.) [Thanks to James Robideau for the lead.]

Bible Colleges Lose Challenge To State Regulation

In Illinois Bible Colleges Association v. Anderson, (ND IL, March 28, 2916), an Illinois federal district court rejected constitutional challenges by a group of Bible Colleges to three Illinois statutes that regulate institutions of higher education in the state.  The statutes generally require approval by the state Board of Higher Education to operate a degree-granting college or grant degrees or certificates of completion.  Plaintiffs argued, among other things, that the statutes "subordinate the Church’s responsibility to God in deciding how to properly educate students in religious teaching" and "unconstitutionally restrict... their ability to accurately describe the nature of the Bible Colleges’ curricula by regulating the use of the terms 'Bachelor’s,' 'Master’s,' or 'Doctorate' degrees." The court rejected plaintiffs' establishment clause, free exercise, speech, association and equal protection challenges to the statutes and dismissed the complaint.

Illinois Bible Colleges Sue Over Rules On Granting Degrees

AP reports that a lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal district court yesterday by the Illinois Bible Colleges Association challenging Illinois Board of Higher Education rules that prevent Bible colleges from awarding full-fledged "degrees" to their graduates.  They can only award "diplomas" or "certificates" since the religious schools do not offer full collegiate curriculums. The schools say that the state is violating their free exercise and speech rights, as well as ignoring the Establishment Clause, by imposing the regulations on them.