{"id":26240,"date":"2025-01-29T09:47:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T14:47:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=26240"},"modified":"2025-01-29T09:47:52","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T14:47:52","slug":"christian-colleges-sue-state-blocking-religious-freedom-in-enrollment-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2025\/01\/christian-colleges-sue-state-blocking-religious-freedom-in-enrollment-program","title":{"rendered":"Christian Colleges Sue State Blocking Religious Freedom in Enrollment Program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Two Minnesota Christian colleges\u2014The University of Northwestern – St. Paul and Crown College\u2014are taking legal action against a state law that bars higher education institutions from requiring students to sign statements of faith to participate in Minnesota’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program. This dual-enrollment program, which allows high school students to earn tuition-free college credit, is at the center of a legal battle that pits religious freedom against state policy.<\/p>\n

The schools, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, argue that the law discriminates against faith-based institutions by forcing them to abandon their religious principles to remain compliant. The lawsuit, Loe v. Jett, filed in mid-2023, claims the state’s policy violates the rights of both institutions and families seeking Christ-centered education.<\/p>\n

The taxpayer-funded high school dual enrollment programs allow students in grades 10 through 12 to take college courses and obtain tuition-free credit. State colleges and universities participating in the program are reimbursed for teaching those students.<\/p>\n

In 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a law<\/a> that prevents PSEO-participating schools from requiring faith statements for enrollment.<\/p>\n

Fox News spoke<\/a> to Diana Thomson, who represents the schools and respective families against the state of Minnesota on behalf of the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty. Her goal is to force state courts to amend the 40-year-old mandate.<\/p>\n

“The Supreme Court has said over the last decade that, especially in the context of education, the government does not have to offer funding to private schools,” Thomson said. “It runs public schools. It doesn’t have to offer funding to private schools, but once it does, it can’t exclude religious schools on the basis of their religious status, [or] their religious exercise.”<\/p>\n

The lawsuit, Loe v. Jett<\/a>, was filed in mid-2023 with the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. It allows Northwestern-St. Paul and Crown are to remain PSEO-compliant until the litigation is cleared. The complainants allege that the state is violating their rights by punishing those higher-education institutions.<\/p>\n

In a Becket press release<\/a> dated Dec. 2024, chief plaintiffs Mark and Melinda Loe said that Minnesota is “depriving kids” like hers, denying Christ followers of a “head start on college at schools that embrace their faith.”<\/p>\n

Additionally, Corbin Hoornbeek, president of the University of Northwestern – St. Paul, states that the university’s century-old quest to offer a Christ-centered education is at risk.<\/p>\n

“Minnesota wants to single out our university because of this unique campus culture, which integrates faith and learning,” he said. “We pray the court will recognize that and continue to allow us to help on-campus PSEO students flourish in their faith and education.”<\/p>\n

Thomson alleges the law will force these schools to abandon their faith statements and, ultimately, deny faith-based students an education centered upon biblical teachings and principles.<\/p>\n

Additionally, she told Fox News that this wasn’t the only case that attempted to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling<\/a> about excluding religious schools from higher education programs.<\/p>\n

“[Our lawsuit] is about giving students a choice of where they want to attend school. Students have the option to go to the University of Minnesota, to any public or private school in Minnesota that offers this program,” she said. “Some students want to choose schools that establish a community that allows them to carry out their faith. That’s what this program allows. It doesn’t establish a religion for the government to offer choice.<\/p>\n

According to numerous reports, the Minnesota Department of Education has not replied to requests for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two Minnesota Christian colleges\u2014The University of Northwestern – St. Paul and Crown College\u2014are taking legal action against a state law that bars higher education institutions from requiring students to sign statements of faith to participate in Minnesota’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program. 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