Court to consider theology scholarship case; Pledge case yet to come

Published: 2003-10-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Supreme Court Oct. 6 cleared 70-plus pages of appeals from its "inbox" on the first day of the 2003 term, declining to become involved in cases involving fetal rights and Bible club meetings in schools, among others. There are several high-profile cases among those the court has not yet decided whether to review. They include one asking whether it's unconstitutional for the Pledge of Allegiance to refer to a nation "under God," and several cases farther down in the courts about civil rights under post-Sept. 11, 2001, anti-terrorism policies. By the end of the court's first day, just one case on the docket held interest for those who follow developments in church-state law: Locke vs. Davey, about whether the recipient of a state-funded scholarship can use the funds to study theology. That case, to be argued Dec. 2, asks whether the state of Washington was justified in telling Joshua Davey that by choosing a double major in business administration and pastoral ministry, he became ineligible for his state scholarship of $1,125.

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