South Bend's plan to transfer publicly owned property to a Catholic high school to become part of a new athletic complex is being challenged in federal court. Americans United and the ACLU filed suit yesterday claiming the move would improperly use public funds for religious purpose. AP reports:
"We hope to protect parents from having to support religious schooling that they don't agree with," said Barry Lynn, executive director of the American United group. "We think religious schools ought to be supported entirely from the goodwill of the folks that believe in that religion. They should not be turning to the rest of taxpayers to fund those projects and ministries."
City officials argue the purchase and transfer of land would require St. Joseph's to make available the facilities for public school use, justifying the public expense.
You can read the complaint here.
