Attorneys General Criticize Idea That May Restrict College Religious Freedom

March 28, 2023

Mountaineer News

West Virginia Attorney General

CHARLESTON, WV (Mountaineer News) - A group of Republican attorneys general, including West Virginia's Patrick Morrisey, have joined forces to urge the Biden administration to continue protecting the First Amendment and religious rights of college students. The coalition of 20 attorneys general signed a letter penned by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, in response to concerns that the administration may repeal a rule established in 2020 that requires public universities to comply with the First Amendment or risk losing grant funding.

Yost has expressed concerns that school administrators across the country are targeting religious student groups, and believes that Americans should be able to practice their religion without fear of government reprisal. The rule, which was implemented to reflect a Supreme Court precedent, prohibits public universities from denying religious student groups the same rights and benefits as other student organizations based on their beliefs, practices, policies, speech, membership standards, or leadership standards, which are informed by sincerely held religious beliefs.

The coalition argues that student religious organizations are being unfairly singled out, and that the religious practice of students is under threat at universities. They believe that religious students have enriched campus communities through charity, service, temperance, and commitment to learning, and deserve the right to freely exercise their religion, regardless of any anti-religious bureaucratic regime that may be in place.

Furthermore, the coalition argues that removing the existing rule would conflict with Supreme Court rulings and allow the government to attack religious groups. They express concern that the Department is condoning the targeting of religious groups, which they believe is unjust.

In addition to West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia have all signed the letter.