Posted on 11/30/2003 9:00:39 PM PST by yonif
Olympia, Washington-AP -- Joshua Davey's hard work and good grades won him a state scholarship, but his ambition to become a minister denied him the money.
Davey sued and won, but the state of Washington is appealing to the U-S Supreme Court, which will hear oral arguments on Tuesday. The case pits Washington state's tough ban on using public money for religious purposes against the U-S Constitution's guarantee of freedom of religion.
A ruling in Davey's favor could overturn similar prohibitions in as many as 36 other states.
Davey, who has since abandoned his ambition for the ministry in favor of Harvard Law School, says the state's willingness to fund anything except religious instruction "creates a hostile attitude -- a hostile environment -- toward religion."
But state officials say their denial of funding was legitimate and did Davey no harm.
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