General Religious Cases
Lemon v. Kurtzman
Lemon v. Kurtzman
Argued: November 8, 1972 Decided: April 2, 1973
Argued: November 8, 1972 Decided: April 2, 1973
The Pennsylvania law passed Act 109, which reimbursed nonpublic religious schools for specific secular educational services. The Supreme Court argued that Act 109 violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Alton J. Lemon and others challenged the court's opinion that in order to be considered constitutional, a policy must have a non-religious purpose, not give rise or favor any religion, and not overly involve the government with religion. The First Amendment does not only allow and protect religions to be practiced in the United States, but it also does not allow the government to become too involved with one certain religion.
The Pennsylvania law passed Act 109, which reimbursed nonpublic religious schools for specific secular educational services. The Supreme Court argued that Act 109 violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Alton J. Lemon and others challenged the court's opinion that in order to be considered constitutional, a policy must have a non-religious purpose, not give rise or favor any religion, and not overly involve the government with religion. The First Amendment does not only allow and protect religions to be practiced in the United States, but it also does not allow the government to become too involved with one certain religion.