Department of Education Implements Trump Order Protecting Religious Freedom on College Campuses

On Wednesday, the Department of Education issued the final rule on the “Religious Liberty and Free Inquiry” regulation which protects the religious freedoms of faith-based groups on college campuses, The Christian Post reports.

In the new regulation, the department “ensures the equal treatment and constitutional rights of religious student organizations at public institutions and provides clarity for faith-based institutions” under the discrimination law, Title IX.

According to a two-page summary of the ruling, “[T]he Final Rule prohibits discrimination against religious student organizations because of their beliefs, practices, policies, speech, membership standards, or leadership standards, which are informed by sincerely held religious beliefs.

“[A] religious student organization would have the same rights as other student organizations at the public institution to receive official recognition, to use the institution’s facilities, and to receive student fee funds.”

Public colleges and universities “must comply with the First Amendment as a requirement to receive Department grants,” as explained in the final rule.

“Accordingly, the Department will rely upon a final, non-default judgment by a state or federal court to determine whether a public or private institution has violated these material grant conditions,” the summary stated….