An Oregon Christian school filed a federal lawsuit Friday against the governor and other state officials over restrictions that permit small public schools to gather for in-person instruction during the pandemic but ban small private schools from doing so.
Private school officials that violate the state restrictions face imprisonment for 30 days and/or a fine up to $1,250.
At issue are restrictions by Gov. Kate Brown and other departments that prohibit public and private schools from gathering until certain COVID-19 testing metrics are met. The restrictions, though, provide certain exemptions to small public schools of 75 students or less while denying those same exemptions to private schools of similar size.
The result: Small public schools in certain counties can meet while small religious schools cannot, the lawsuit says.
The suit was filed by Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of Hermiston Christian School in Umatilla County, an area about three hours east of Portland.
“After 41 years of faithful service, Hermiston Christian School … could be forced to shut its doors for good unless the Court stops an obvious case of discrimination,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit alleges violations of religious liberty and parental rights as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution’s First and Fourteenth Amendments. Religious schools…
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