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Valley Forge Christian College v. Americans United for Separation of Church and State

United States Supreme Court
454 U.S. 464 (1982)

Written by Rose VanHofwegen, JD

Facts

A federal law allowed the government to give surplus property to tax-exempt educational nonprofits for the value of its benefit to the public. For free, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare gave a hospital to the Valley Forge Christian College (defendant), a college devoted to training students for ministry or religious service. A citizens’ group called Americans United for Separation of Church and State (plaintiff) brought a federal lawsuit challenging the donation.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Rehnquist, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
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The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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