New Kansas law lets campus religious groups restrict members
Source: Washington Post
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas’ conservative Republican governor signed legislation Tuesday allowing faith-based groups at college campuses to restrict membership to like-minded people, likely putting the state on a collision course with civil liberties groups.
The GOP-dominated Legislature approved the legislation earlier this month, even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled nearly six years ago that universities can require membership in such groups to be open to all. Supporters have said the bill was a victory for the freedom to exercise religious beliefs, but opponents called it a veiled attempt to legalize discrimination.
Kansas already has a religious objections law that prevents state or local governments from limiting people’s freedom to express their religion, though that law doesn’t touch on organizations at universities. With Gov. Sam Brownback’s signature, Kansas becomes the second state after Oklahoma to have a college-specific law.
“This is very good, narrow, targeted piece of legislation that will serve the betterment of our college campuses,” Brownback said.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/higher-education/kansas-governor-signs-bill-protecting-faith-groups-on-campus/2016/03/22/cfdca098-f06f-11e5-a2a3-d4e9697917d1_story.html
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