Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance Files Suit Over Discrimination at University of Houston-Clear Lake

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NEWS PROVIDED BY
Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance
Oct. 26, 2021

LAFAYETTE, Ind., Oct. 26, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance files suit over discrimination at University of Houston-Clear Lake.

ADF represents Ratio Christi after university denied the group recognition based on its views.

University of Houston-Clear Lake excluded Ratio Christi because it requires its leaders to agree with its values and mission. Other organizations have leadership requirements but are recognized by the university. But when Ratio Christi applied for recognition as a registered student organization, the university rejected the application and revoked its invitation to the student organization fair because Ratio Christi's constitution requires its leaders to be Christians--not members of another faith or of no faith.

"College should be a time when students learn firsthand how the Constitution protects their right to express their opinion, as well as the opinions and views of those with whom they disagree, but that's not what's happening at the University of Houston–Clear Lake," said ADF Legal Counsel Caleb Dalton. "Instead, the university singled out Ratio Christi and its members because of their Christian beliefs, denying them recognition and equal treatment among their peer groups. It's natural and expected that a Christian organization would require its leaders to be Christian; the university allows other organizations to have similar, commonsense leadership requirements. What we see here is university officials blatantly discriminating against Ratio Christi and banishing them from a fair, free exchange of ideas specifically because of their religious beliefs."

Unlike other groups at the university, the students of Ratio Christi cannot reserve space, invite speakers, or access the pool of funds they paid into that is reserved for student organizations, speakers, and events because the university has excluded Ratio Christi from Registered Student Organization status.

Dr. Corey Miller is President/CEO of Ratio Christi (RC), a Christian student ministry with chapters at many colleges and universities. RC exists to teach students how to explain and defend the Christian faith through history, science, and philosophy. Although the chapters allow access to all students, numerous schools have attempted to deny their chapter members the right to choose leaders in accordance with RC's Christian beliefs. Thus, protecting free speech and religious freedom on campus is vital to Ratio Christi.

Dr. Miller says, "It is astounding that so many universities fail to see their blatant discrimination in their unequal treatment of campus organizations. Universities have no right telling such organizations what their leaders can and cannot believe. For the pursuit of truth, universities should embrace rather than cancel viewpoint diversity."

ADF attorneys filed Ratio Christi at the University of Houston–Clear Lake v. Khator in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Murphy Klasing of Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C. in Houston, one of nearly 3,500 attorneys allied with ADF, is serving as local counsel. Media representatives interested in the case may contact ADF Media Relations at (480) 444-0020 or media@adflegal.org. If interested in interviewing Dr. Corey Miller about Ratio Christi's ministry, reach him at 704-989-2752 or email info@ratiochristi.org.

SOURCE Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance

CONTACT: Dr. Corey Miller, 704-989-2752, info@ratiochristi.org