.- The
University of Notre Dame could be required to pay back a government
grant used to train teachers in Catholic schools if a judge rules that
the use of the funds was unconstitutional, reported the Associated
Press.
That was the 2-1
ruling issued in Laskowski v. Spellings by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals in Chicago, April 13. The judges ruled that Indianapolis
federal Judge Larry McKinney acted prematurely when he dismissed the
case as moot because the $500,000 Department of Education grant had
already been spent.
Notre Dame
received the money to redistribute to other colleges to help them
replicate a program that trains teachers who then teach in impoverished
Catholic schools. Private donations also fund the program.
The lawsuit was
filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, on behalf of
taxpayers. They argued that government had no business paying for
religious education, reported the AP.
The ACLU wanted
the court to order the Education Department to demand repayment. While
Circuit Judge Richard Posner disagreed, he said it should not prevent
restitution if a constitutional violation of the edict on the
separation of church and state were found.
However, the 7th Circuit did not address whether using public money for the teacher-training program violated the constitution.
The attorney who
represented Notre Dame, Michael Carvin, told the AP that the university
handled the program in line with previous U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
He said he
agreed with Circuit Judge Diane Sykes' 13-page dissent, in which she
says the case was moot and the two-judge majority kept it alive by
inventing a "newfangled" remedy inconsistent with previous rulings.
The university may decide to appeal the decision.
Court says Notre Dame may have to pay back education grant used for religious training
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