The American Humanist Association (AHA) is challenging the state of West Virginia’s decision to give a $5 million water grant to an out-of-state Catholic college, the College of Saint Joseph the Worker in Steubenville, Ohio. The West Virginia Water Development Authority grant would in part, according to a news report, create a new branch college campus in West Virginia.
An AHA press statement pointed out that that college’s website describes the institution as “radically Catholic from top to bottom,” infused with Catholic teachings and with the goal of producing “faithful Christians who are virtuous citizens, intellectually formed, and capable of building up the Church in their communities.”
The AHA cited news stories reporting that state Del. Pat McGeehan and officials in former governor Jim Justice’s office lobbied for the school to get the grant through the water authority.
“We’re proud to take a stand on behalf of our members in West Virginia, because no one should have to pay taxes to fund someone else’s religion,” said AHA Executive Director Fish Stark. “Humanists believe deeply in the freedom of conscience, and this attempt to force West Virginia taxpayers to fund religious activity is an offense against the Constitution and common sense. As a former West Virginia resident, I believe ‘Mountaineers Are Always Free’ means your faith is your business — no one else, and certainly not the government, has the right to push it on you.”
The case, American Humanist Association v. West Virginia Water Development Authority, is pending in state court.