Canada’s Supreme Court has rejected the country’s only Christian law school.
Trinity Western University has lost a years-long legal fight to launch what would be the only Christian law school in Canada.
The Supreme Court of Canada considered a pair of appeals cases involving regional law societies that refused to accredit the Trinity Western program due to the evangelical institution’s student covenant, which prohibits sex outside of traditional marriage.
Justices sided 7-2 against TWU, calling it “proportionate and reasonable” to favor the rights of LGBT students over the school’s religious convictions.
Some legal experts say the decision has essentially “gutted” religious freedom protections. It also quashes the future of the school, which was slated to open as early as 2019 if the ruling had been in its favor since Canadian law schools require the approval of provincial law societies to operate.
Earl Phillips, executive director of TWU’s proposed law school said, “Without question, the Trinity Western community is disappointed by this ruling. However, all Canadians should be troubled by today’s decision that sets a precedent for how the courts will interpret and apply Charter rights and equality rights going forward.”
The Trinity Western program would have been one of just three in the country to offer special training in charity law.