Court Throws Out Lawsuit Against Christian Children's Home

Kentucky can continue paying faith-based organizations to provide residential care to abused and neglected children in state custody.

On March 28, a Kentucky federal district court dismissed a lawsuit alleging that the state's payments to Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children (KBHC) violated the Establishment Clause. The court concluded that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the payments. The plaintiffs had argued that their status as state taxpayers gave them the right to challenge the financial relationship between various state agencies and KBHC.

CLS Center attorneys assisted Louisville attorney John Sheller in representing KBHC. The plaintiffs have not yet indicated whether they intend to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.