Victory for Wisconsin faith-based organizations
Court orders Wisconsin officials to allow religious organizations equal participation in state charitable program
Monday, October 02, 2006,

MADISON, Wis. — A federal district court ruled in favor of the Association of Faith-Based Organizations Friday in its suit against Wisconsin officials for denying participation to religious charitable organizations in Wisconsin’s State Employees Combined Campaign. Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund and Christian Legal Society represent AFBO.

“A state cannot discriminate against religious organizations because they exercise their fundamental constitutional rights. This is a tremendous victory for religious freedom,” said Casey Mattox, litigation counsel for CLS’s Center for Law & Religious Freedom. “This decision reaffirms that a religious organization’s faith requirements for its employees and board members is protected under the U.S. Constitution.”

Wisconsin’s State Employees Combined Campaign is a state-operated program by which state employees may voluntarily authorize payroll deductions for charitable purposes. Wisconsin officials denied several faith-based organizations, including CLS, participation in the program because they require their board members and employees to share their religious beliefs.
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