Gov. Sam Brownback signed a new law on Tuesday allowing faith-based groups at college campuses in Kansas to limit their membership to those who believe in the same faith. The legislation, however, has raised opposition from civil liberties groups.
The law was approved by a Republican-dominated Senate earlier this month. The New York Times reported the new legislation supersedes a U.S. Supreme Court ruling rendered six years ago that student groups in universities should be open to all students.
In Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, the group said religious-based group at the University of California-Hastings College of Law was declined recognition and funding after it was found to have required its members to sign a form in which they promised to abstain from premarital or same-sex sexual activities. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court recognized the right of the university to refuse recognition to the student group.
Supporters of the law celebrated it as a victory for the freedom to exercise religious beliefs under the First Amendment.
"This is [a] very good, narrow, targeted piece of legislation that will serve the betterment of our college campuses," Gov. Brownback said, as quoted by U.S. News.
Critics, however, perceive that law as an attempt to legalize discrimination. They contend that it might affect minority students and force them and their parents to support groups that would discriminate against them if they don't. The discrimination, according to critics, will sweep widely as it might discriminate based on gender, race or disabilities.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas is planning to challenge the law in court.
"It's a step backward to a time when government was actively enabling discrimination against people based on who they are," said Micah Kubic, executive director of ACLU Kansas.
The new law is a consequence of several reported on-campus incidents in Kansas and other states, particularly an incident in the Washburn University where a Christian group filed a lawsuit challenging a campus ordinance imposing that the group cannot require its members to believe in the Bible as the sole Word of God. According to CBN News, the issue was raised after a Mormon student was not permitted to lead the group's Bible study due to a slight difference in belief.
The new Kansas law, which will take effect on Jul. 1, will prevent colleges and universities from denying religious grounds funding or intervening in their membership standards.
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