MILWAKIE, Ore. (AP) — More Oregon schools are hosting church services, as a source of income for those public buildings.
The Oregonian (http://bit.ly/tGsfCB ) says some believe the school-based churches violate the Constitutional requirement of separation between church and state. But the courts have generally found the practice to be legal.
The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that as long as districts are renting out spaces to outside organizations, it would be discriminatory to ban religious groups.
In Oregon, eight of the 10 biggest districts currently rent out buildings for religious services.
Salem-Keizer rents out 25 buildings for that purpose, a number that has grown three-fold over a decade. Last year, the district collected about $88,000 from religious organizations.
