Ruling: California's religious schools may receive bonds

AP via SFGate ^ | 3/5/7 | RACHEL KONRAD

[SmithL]

San Francisco (AP) -- Municipal agencies may provide tax-exempt bonds to a religious school — as long as its curriculum includes secular classes, California's high court ruled Monday.

The 4-3 decision reverses an earlier ruling and hands a victory to three Christian schools in Southern California.

In 2002, Oaks Christian School, California Baptist University and Azusa Pacific University wanted to construct cafeterias, a mail center and athletic facilities using bonds from "joint power authorities."

California has more than 350 joint power authorities — public consortiums that provide tax breaks to institutional investors who fund public interest projects with low-interest loans. The municipal groups often finance residential housing and schools.

Critics complained the tax-free municipal bonds violated church-state separation in California's Constitution.

Justice Joyce Kennard, a Republican appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian in 1989, said the bonds didn't violate state law or the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

[Carry_Okie]

My bet is that it's money for madrassas, but not for Christians.