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ERIC Number: ED212239
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1981-Dec
Pages: 29
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Gary E. Widmar et al., Petitioners v. Clark Vincent et al. On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Supreme Court of the United States, No. 80-689.
Supreme Court of the U. S., Washington, DC.
The U.S. Supreme Court case of Gary E. Widmar, et al., versus Clark Vincent, et al., is presented. The question addressed is whether a state university (University of Missouri at Kansas City), which makes its facilities generally available for the activities of registered student group (evangelical Christian group, Cornerstone) desiring to use the facilities for religious worship and religious discussion. The student religious group was informed that it could no longer conduct its meetings in university facilities because of a university regulation prohibiting the use of university buildings or grounds for purposes of religious teaching or worship. The students alleged their rights to free exercise of religion and freedom of speech under the First Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court found that the application of the regulation to prevent the student group from holding a religious worship service in university facilities violates their constitutional rights to free exercise of religion, equal protection, and freedom of speech. The majority of Supreme Court justices ruled that if a university permits students and others to use its property for secular purposes, it must also furnish facilities to religious groups for the purposes of worship and the practice of their religion. The opinion of Justice Stevens, who concurred in the Court's judgment but did not endorse its reasoning, is presented, along with the opinion of Justice White, who dissented with the Court's decision. A syllabus is also included. (SW)
Publication Type: Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Supreme Court of the U. S., Washington, DC.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A