Council for Secular Humanism v. McNeilThe Becket Fund, together with Wiley Rein LLP and the Tallahassee-based firm Ausley & McMullen, represent halfway houses Prisoners of Christ and Lamb of God Ministries, both of which receive state funding to provide substance abuse counseling, housing, and other services to recently released prison inmates. All services are provided on a completely voluntary basis.
In May 2007 the New York-based Council for Secular Humanism sued the State of Florida and two faith-based contractors under the state’s Blaine Amendment, which prohibits appropriation of state funds for “sectarian” purposes.
In a victory for the ministries, the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Leon County, Florida found in July 2008 that the use of public funds by the ministries did not violate the state’s Blaine Amendment because it advances secular goals of reintegration of criminal offenders and the reduction of recidivism.
"This ruling conclusively demonstrates that the Blaine Amendment does not bar the state from using state taxes to contract with faith-based organizations. Our clients can continue to do their good work serving those in need," said Becket legal counsel Lori Windham. The Council for Secular Humanism, however, has appealed the ruling to Florida’s First District Court of Appeals, and briefing is scheduled to begin in March 2009. Resources & Documents
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