State Money and Religious Studies

The SCOTUS rules that states can withhold scholarships from students who choose to study theology.

"Training someone to lead a congregation is an essentially religious endeavor," Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote for the majority. "Indeed, majoring in devotional theology is akin to a religious calling as well as an academic pursuit."

Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented.

AP reports the Bush administration had argued the state was wrong to yank the scholarship from former student Joshua Davey. Davey initially won a state Promise Scholarship, but the award was rescinded when the state found out he would be studying theology.

Update: The majority and dissenting opinions can be read here.