UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; NICHOLAS
MILLER, PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; ALEX
COLVIN; HANALYN COLVIN, DAN
FEFFERMAN; SUSAN FEFFERMAN;
MICHAEL ROSCHUNI; and LLOYD EBY
Plaintiffs,
vs.
THE STATE OF MARYLAND; BOARD OF
REGENTS, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
MARYLAND; PARRIS GLENDENING;
WILLIAM WOOD; and DOES 1-10.
Defendants.
_____________________________________
Case No. ____________
COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY
AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF; AND
ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS
INTRODUCTION
1.For more than three centuries, the State of Maryland has been a staunch
supporter and defender of religious liberties. Since the 17th century, institutes
of higher learning have been chartered and established within the State for the
free flow of ideas, differing views and differing philosophies. However, an act
of the Maryland State Legislature and the concurrence of defendants and the
University System of Maryland, have undertaken to negate this history.
Through a legislative act, the "Task Force to Study the Effects of Cult
Activities on Public Senior Higher Education Institutions," Maryland has
commenced a religious inquisition, targeting and vilifying minority religions
with the inflammatory denomination of "cult," derogating targeted religions
with government imprimatur and utilizing funds acquired through public
taxation.
2.Based upon lobbying by anti-religious organizations such as the former "Cult
Awareness Network" and the "American Family Foundation," and individuals
with undisguised religious prejudices and contempt for the ability of persons
to make personal choices in their own best judgment, the legislature has acted
to censor and suppress the promotion and propagation of certain religions.
Such inquisition, as ordered by the legislature, is to consult with organizations
and individuals of known religious prejudice to investigate "recruitment and
organizational practices of cults."
3.The Maryland Resolution, House Joint Resolution HJR 22, provides
disingenuous justifications for its unconstitutional conduct: that university
students are too "vulnerable," too "anxious about their futures" and too
"overwhelmed with new responsibilities" to investigate and choose their own
paths of religious belief, conscience and practice. The legislature has thus
determined that some religious beliefs and philosophies must be censored
from college students lest they become "involved" with vilified religions and
"become alienated from their families and friends" absent the intervention of
the state to inform students which religions are "cults" and which religions are
- in the view of a selected panel - entitled to religious recognition and respect.
Professing to know what is best for university students to believe, the
legislature has, in effect, determined that it is both unnecessary and harmful
for students to think for themselves.
4.Maryland was established in the 17th century because Catholics were being
persecuted in England by the government in power. Since the year 1649 when
Maryland's famous Act of Tolerance was passed into law, resulting in the
immigration of those seeking religious freedom from less enlightened
colonies, Maryland has had a deserved reputation for the promotion of
religious liberties. The anti-cult Task Force Resolution threatens to reverse
that status, and constitutes an illegal and unconstitutional act of government.
5.The legislative enactment and the resultant activities of the government funded
"Task Force," including a public report on its study of "cult activities,"
"manifest a violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution
and the Maryland Constitution, and federal statutes, constituting a prohibited
religious preference for some religious organizations and some religious
practices, while condemning and denigrating other religious practices and
beliefs not so preferred and creating a substantial chilling effect upon the free
exercise of religion in the Maryland University System.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
6.Jurisdiction of this action arises out of 28 U.S.C ñ1331, in that this action
challenges the constitutionality of a state legislative act and its subsequent
enforcement; and 28 U.S.C. ñ1343, and 42 U.S.C. ñ1983 and ñ1988, to
redress the deprivation under color of state law, of rights and privileges
secured by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
Constitution; and under the Maryland Constitution. The acts set forth herein
arise in and have taken place in the District of Maryland.
PARTIES
7.Plaintiff International Coalition for Religious Freedom is a non-profit
educational organization located in Falls Church, Virginia, dedicated to
defending the religious freedom of all people, regardless of race, gender,
creed or nationality. Several of plaintiff's officers and members are residents
of the State of Maryland, participated in the State University system, and are
directly affected by the governmental conduct at issue in this case.
8.Plaintiff Nicholas Miller, Executive Director of the Council on Religious
Freedom, is an individual and taxpayer residing in Montgomery County,
Maryland, who wishes freely to propagate his religious faith and who objects
to his tax dollars being spent to single out for discriminatory discussions and
treatment, minority religious groups.
9.Plaintiff John Alexander Colvin is an individual residing in Anne Arundel
County, Maryland, and is an enrolled student in the University of Baltimore,
Maryland University System. Mr. Colvin is also an employee of the System
who believes that his employment is being jeopardized by the activities of the
Task Force and the chilling effect created by the University System's
investigation into the religious affiliations of its employees.
10.Plaintiff Hanalyn Colvin is an individual residing in Anne Arundel County,
Maryland, and is a high school student who is considering enrolling in the
Maryland University System. As a result of the Task Force proceedings, Ms.
Colvin has been intimidated from pursuing these potential college plans and
may be forced to travel out of state to continue her education because of the
chill to her free exercise of religion, the detrimental effect the activities of the
Task Force portend for her future employment opportunities and the
prejudicial atmosphere being established in Maryland arising out of the
activities complained of herein.
11.Plaintiffs, Dan Fefferman and Susan Fefferman, are individuals residing in
Prince George's County, Maryland, concerned that their 17 year old daughter,
who is planning to attend a Maryland University System institution of higher
learning upon graduation from high school, will, because of the atmosphere of
"cult activities" generated by the defendants, be subject to harassment and
scrutiny arising out of her parent's religious beliefs.
12.Plaintiff Michael Roschuni is a resident of Prince Georges County Maryland,
and is a current undergraduate student at the University of Maryland at
College Park. Mr. Roschuni is member of a religious organization targeted by
the unlawful acts of the defendants as set forth below, whose right to practice
and promulgate his religious beliefs has been chilled by defendants' conduct.
13.Plaintiff Lloyd Eby is an individual residing in Prince George's County,
Maryland, who has three children, ages 15, 10, and 7, attending public schools
in that county. Dr. Eby holds a Ph. D. in philosophy, with interest and
professional training in ethics, logic, theory of knowledge, and theory of
religion, and is a member of the humanities faculty of the University of
Maryland University College. He is also a member of a religious group that is
frequently denigrated by being called a "cult" by defendants and those acting
in concert with them. Because the Task Force is unlawfully and illogically
attempting to single out and attack, investigate, or otherwise harass some
religious belief and activity by calling it "cult activity," his ability to continue
with his profession and to promulgate and practice his religious beliefs is
chilled and threatened by the existence and activities of the Task Force and the
acts of the defendants set forth below.
14.Defendant State of Maryland is one of the United States of America.
15.Defendant Board of Regents, University System of Maryland is the executive
and operational body in control of and in charge of the University System of
Maryland, and is responsible, in part for the actions and violations of law set
forth below.
16.Defendant Parris GLENDENNING is the Governor of the State of Maryland,
and is responsible for the implementation of the unlawful statute and acts set
forth below.
17.Defendant William Wood is a member Board of Regents, University System
of Maryland, and is the Chairman of the Task Force, responsible for the
implementation of the illegal acts complained of below.
18.Defendants Does 1-10 are persons and entities which on information and
belief, are acting in concert with and in conspiracy with the named defendants
to carry out the unconstitutional and illegal acts set forth below. Such persons
or entities will be identified and named as defendants during the course of this
litigation.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
A. Text of the Resolution
19.Maryland House Joint Resolution 22, entitled, "Task Force to Study the
Effects of Cult Activities on Public Senior Higher Education Institutions,"
passed into law on May 21, 1998, states that its purpose is to establish such
Task Force and to report thereafter to the Governor and the General
Assembly.
20.The resolution opens with the statement that "WHEREAS, A 'recent' mass
suicide in California, cult motivated murders in Mississippi and Florida and a
subway gassing incident in Japan have increased national awareness of the
destructive nature of cult activities." None of these alleged incidents is
explained and none alleged to have any connection with any interest of the
State of Maryland. The resolution thereafter states several opinions and
generalities without attributing any source to the opinions:
"WHEREAS, It has been estimated that there are as many as 2,000 cults
operating in the Unites States with 4 million to 6 million members."
"WHEREAS, Cult recruitment activities are often directed towards students
on college campuses."
"WHEREAS, College students are particularly vulnerable to cult recruitment
because they are often grappling with becoming independent, overwhelmed
with new responsibilities and relationships, adjusting to new environments,
and anxious about their futures."
21.Having promulgated such derogatory opinions about "cults" and the inability
of college students to understand and appreciate the threat "cults" manifest, the
Resolution postulates dire results when students become involved in "cults":
"WHEREAS, College students who become involved with cults undergo
personality changes, suffer academically and financially, are alienated from
their families and friends and are robbed of the very things universities were
designed to encourage: freedom of thought, intellectual growth and personal
development."
22.Finally, the Resolution notes that "Although the United States Constitution and
Maryland Constitution clearly and properly limit the ability of any
government entity to interfere with the free exercise of religion," the State has
a "right and responsibility to examine the behavior" of groups "who violate
State or local law or campus policies regarding deception, harassment or
fraud, or who threaten the mental, emotional or physical well-being of the
citizens of Maryland or students enrolled in the University System." Thus,
despite recognition that it is constrained by the First Amendment to impinge
upon religious belief and practice, the legislature justifies the Resolution
through subjective determinations regarding its opinion of the effect of "cults"
on the minds of students.
23.The Resolution requires that the Task Force be composed of two members of
the Maryland House of Delegates, two members of the Maryland Senate, three
state university and college presidents or their designees, the chancellor of the
University System of Maryland or designee, a member of the Board of
Regents of the University System, a member of the Maryland Higher
Education Commission, "two parents of current or former cult members,"
two parents from school parents associations, and two student government
representatives.
24.The Resolution then instructs the Task Force to investigate and acquire
information regarding the "the recruitment and organizational practices of
cults... the response of college administrators in Maryland and around the
nation to cult activities, and the effect of cult involvement on students." The
"cults" are not identified as sources of information on their own alleged
activities and organization. Rather, the Task Force is instructed to
communicate with "cult awareness organizations, former cult members,
college administrators ... families of cult members and other interested
parties" for such information. Indeed, "cults" are not identified or defined in
the Resolution at all, leaving the scope of the inquisition solely in the hands
of the Task Force.
B. Legislative History of the Resolution
25.On February 19, 1998, House Joint Resolution 22 was introduced to the
Maryland House of Delegates by several legislators, urged by members of the
aforesaid "cult awareness organizations."
26.A sponsor of the Resolution, Delegate C. Anthony Muse, supplied his own
written testimony in support of the Resolution, which stated that the "cults" he
was seeking to restrain were religious organizations. Asserting his preference
for some religious practices over others he denominates as "cults," Delegate
Muse stated, in part:
Cults can be defined from and by many different disciplines.
Here, I am not defining cults from a theological perspective as I
always believe in freedom of religious expression. But I am
aware that even religious practices can be designed to be
manipulative, harmful and have as its goal to prey on naive
persons rather than praying for the good of one.
The committee meetings in which the passage of the Task Force legislation
was proposed were neither fair or broadly known to the public. No witnesses
were invited to speak who opposed the Resolution, despite the fact that many
such witnesses have come forth once the Resolution was publicized. In
particular, no representatives of the groups proposed to be studied (namely
the purported "cults") were afforded the opportunity to refute public
allegations against their religious beliefs and practices during the hearings or
to give reasons for their opposition to the resolution. Moreover, in the second
and third readings of the bill before the Maryland Senate, the clerk
incorrectly read the bills as establishing a Task Force on "Cultural" Activities,
not "Cult" Activities. Thus, many Senators, during the rush of considering
approximately 200 bills at the close of the legislative session, may not have
realized the true nature of the bill they passed.
27.Prior to Delegate Muse's proposal of the Resolution, he received a lengthy
memorandum and letter from Washington, D.C. attorney David Bardin, on
behalf of his clients, Les and Nora Baker who complain that their daughter
was converted to a religious organization while attending the University of
Maryland. Mr. Bardin was a registered lobbyist for two professed "anti-cult"
organizations: the Cult Awareness Network and the American Family
Foundation.
28.The Cult Awareness Network ("CAN," originally called the Citizen's Freedom
Foundation), was the primary American anti-religious group of the second
half of this century. The Citizen's Freedom Foundation changed its name to
the Cult Awareness Network in 1986 to capitalize on the powerful images it
created itself by redefining the term "cult" in American lexicon as something
dangerous and sinister and, invariably, a "false" religion. The term "cult" is,
at best, only vaguely defined even by CAN and other hate groups, because, in
essence, the term simply means a minority religious organization with
practices and beliefs disapproved by the speaker. As stated by author Tom
Wolfe, "A cult is a religious organization without political influence" - a
definition particularly appropriate here.
29.However, another organization denominating itself the "sister organization" of
CAN, the American Family Foundation ("AFF") survived and continued its
anti-religious programs. Written materials from AFF were also provided to
the legislature by Mr. Bardin or others as part of the lobbying for passage of
the Resolution, and form a portion of the legislative record. Like literally all
of the statements supporting the Resolution, the materials provide muted
complaints regarding religious belief and practice. Mr. Bardin's client, Nora
Baker, also submitted a written statement dated March 5, 1998, which argues
that although she complained to the University that her daughter was
converted to an alleged "cult," a member of the University President's staff
referred to the experience as having provided potential "spiritual nourishment
and a meaningful life philosophy" for the student's consideration. Mrs. Baker
disagreed with that particular religion's philosophy, thus raising sufficient
complaint with her state delegate and purchasing sufficient representation to
assert that the religion at issue was unacceptable.
30.Roger and Sandra Stephon, the parents of a member of the International
Churches of Christ, and who stridently disagreed with their adult child's
involvement in the religion, have particularly taken credit for passage of the
Resolution. A letter and written "Statement to the Appropriations Committee"
from the Stephons dated March 5, 1998, is included in the legislative record.
The Statement makes generalities regarding the existence of manipulative
"cults" on campus without specifically stating what these "cults" are or
identifying the alleged cult which they claim caused their son to drop out of
school. However, the Statement makes clear that the entity about which they
complain is the International Churches of Christ, a religious organization
which their son joined.
31.Another undated statement in the legislative history, is from one Laura Ann
Weber, who, in inflammatory terms asserts that her life changed for the
worse after she attended a Bible study group which lead to her deep
involvement in a religious organization she referred to as a "cult."
32.Additional written testimony is from a University of Maryland Chaplain,
Holly Ullman, who acknowledges that she is an ordained Presbyterian minister
actively "involved in cult awareness education." Rev. Ulmer relates the
"harassment" of having been approached by a person inviting her to attend
Bible studies or worship services and claims that this sort of incident occurs
from time to time on campus, noting, "[u]nfortunately, the presence of
destructive groups on campus is contributing to the overall 'religious climate'
at Maryland." Rev. Ullman thus urges passage of the Resolution so that these
[obviously not Presbyterian] groups are not allowed to lead students to a
"path of personal and spiritual destruction."
33.A Lutheran Chaplain, Elizabeth Platz, testified prior to passage of the
Resolution that one of the problems in dealing with "intrusive groups" is the
lack of definition of a "cult." Rev. Platz does not therefore define "cults," but
again, such a group is presumably not the Lutheran Church. Rev. Platz
recommends a publication which she identifies as a "University of Maryland
publication, Friends Are Everywhere: A Guide to Making Judgments About
Groups," which cautions students about getting involved with groups that
teach insidious "ideas" designed to "tempt you ...[to] ... reject previously held
values." The pamphlet is provided by AFF to campuses throughout the nation
and produced by some of these campuses at public expense (including the
University of Maryland at College Park).
34.Another Lutheran minister, Richard Dowhower, also submitted an article he
wrote and published in The Lutheran magazine, derogatory of the
International Churches of Christ. The article recommends that "when someone
you love joins a suspicious group," that a person should call the Cult
Awareness Network (of which he was a leader), to "verify that the group and
its leader are known to be dangerous;" and one should "learn the enemy" by
purchasing a book from the Cult Awareness Network written by a
deprogrammer, and "enlist an exit counselor ... so a plan can be prepared to
help extricate and rehabilitate your loved one" and asserting that "reputable
exit counselors no longer do kidnappings and deprogramming." Rev.
Dowhower further provided a written statement in the legislative record
asserting that he is the Chair of the AFF's Clergy Committee and was on the
Advisory Board of "the late, great Cult Awareness Network." Rev.
Dowhower's testimony included many derogatory comments concerning
"cults" and claims that purported former members thereof are allegedly
"confused about ... their own spirituality and personal theology" - a matter
which he purports to resolve through his own counseling as a Lutheran
minister. Dowhower supplies definitional characteristics to the Legislature
regarding "cults," one of which is "the need to be on the Messianic cutting
edge of God's saving work on earth" as well as other vague generalities of a
religious and/or social nature.
35.Following receipt of the testimony set forth above and other anti-religious
lobbying, the Joint Resolution was passed by the Maryland House of Delegates
on April 9, 1999 and by the Senate on April 12, 1999. The Governor signed
the Joint Resolution on May 21, 1998.
Task Force Meetings
36.After the Resolution became law, Members of the Task Force were appointed
as required by the Resolution. One of the two State Senators appointed to the
Task Force was Ida Ruben, who had supported and promulgated CAN's
message of religious intolerance for at least the past 15 years. Senator Ruben
previously sponsored four bills on behalf of CAN and other anti-religious
groups to diminish the religious rights and freedoms of minority religions:
HJR 107 in 1980, HJR 67 in 1981, SJR 22 for the establishment of a "Cult
Awareness Week" in 1988, and Bill No. 1725 in 1982 entitled, An Act
Concerning the Special Guardianship of the Person," relating essentially to a
legalized form of kidnapping. Although each of these efforts was unsuccessful,
Mrs. Ruben received an honorary award from CAN as its "top legislator" for
these acts of religious prejudice.
37.Also appointed as a member of the Task Force as a "parent of a former or
current cult member " representative, was Ms. Patricia Rausch, a parent of an
individual who had attended several meetings of the International Churches of
Christ, who was highly disturbed over her adult daughter's choice of religion.
Other members of the Task Force were overtly critical of purported "cults."
Frantz Wilson, an "anti-cult" activist, was also appointed to the Task Force as
a "parent" representative, although his daughter joined the Black Hebrews, a
religious group 19 years ago having no relation in or to the State of Maryland
or its universities. During one of the Task Force meetings, Mr. Wilson saw fit
to make a threat of physical violence against a member of a religious minority
attending the public meeting. Mr. Wilson and Ms. Rausch - the two most
outspoken "anti-cult" activists on the Task Force - were appointed the
"sub-committee" to select the speakers at Task Force meetings. They selected
all "anti-cult" advocates. Mrs. Rausch was also appointed the chairperson of a
sub-committee to work on language describing the alleged "destructive
behaviors" of "groups." She is on record stating that "a cult is not a religion."
The appointment of these two persons as "parents of current or former cult
members," demonstrates that the Task Force formally viewed Black Hebrews
and members of the International Churches of Christ, two minority religious
organizations, as "cults." Such act prefers certain religions over other
religions in violation of the Establishment Clause of the United States
Constitution and the Maryland Constitution.
38.The Task Force therefore followed its legislative mandate of seeking
information from "anti-cult" representatives and other persons with an
"anti-cult" agenda, rather than from balanced sources. At the first meeting of
the Task Force on May 25, 1999, one of the persons invited to speak was
Ronald Loomis, the former Executive Director of the national office of the
Cult Awareness Network. Mr. Loomis' speech was entitled, "Overview on
Cults" as a purported expert on the subject. Other persons invited to testify at
the Task Force's first meeting were the head of the local former Cult
Awareness Network office in Baltimore, Doris Quelet, and Lutheran minister
Rev. Platz mentioned above. Several "former members" offering derogatory
opinions on their former churches were also invited to testify. No active
members or representatives of any of the targeted "cults" were asked to
testify, and no representatives of civil rights groups or advocates were invited
to testify. The International Churches of Christ and the Unification Church
were specifically targeted in the first and subsequent meetings of the Task
Force.
39.Substantial time was expended in the first meeting to define the type of group
the task Force was instructed to investigate, i.e., endeavoring to define the
term "cult." The Task Force was unable to define the term and its Chairman
expressed concern that the Task Force not become involved in religious issues
in light of the obvious anti-religious direction the Task Force must necessarily
take to consummate its responsibilities under the Resolution. The definition of
"cult" was therefore not the subject of agreement at the first meeting.
40.At the June 7, 1999 meeting of the Task Force, the International Churches of
Christ continued to be targeted as the primary "cult" of concern. Ronald
Loomis, presently representing himself as the "Education Director" of the
AFF, distributed a flyer which claimed that the International Churches of
Christ was banned from a number of campuses, and thus apparently that it
should be banned in Maryland. Several other minority religions were also
mentioned in the context of being "cults."
41.Further meetings of the Task Force have gone forward. The conduct of the
Task Force meetings has been extremely unfair and unbalanced, further
demonstrating the intention to derogate "cults." "Anti-cult" viewpoints are
fostered and promoted while those with opposing views are actively
discouraged or denied reasonable opportunity to speak. Each subsequent
meeting continues a parade of derogatory assertions regarding "cults" and
more recently, statements from a number of religious scholars indicating that
the inquisition mandated by the Resolution is illegal, unconstitutional and
based upon views of prejudice and bigotry rather than legitimate concerns.
The Resolution and the Conduct of Task Force Members is
Unconstitutional
42.Nearly every person to testify regarding the scope of the Task Force's inquiry
and the nature of the alleged problem addressed, spoke to the religious
practices sought to be examined and restrained. Several of the Task Force
members have publicly commented at the meetings of their intention that their
activities not
43.In the several months of its existence, the Task Force has been unable to
fashion even a definition for the term "cult" because every definitional criteria
is obviously religious or in seeking to avoid religion, is ridiculous. Even its
Chairman recognized that it is problematic to investigate religious "cults."
44.Any doubt as to whether or not the Resolution calls for an investigation of and
potential targeting of religious groups is reasonably dispelled by such
recognition of this fact by the State of Maryland. The State maintains a
webpage of legislative enactments and proposals, indexed to specific topics.
Under the topical heading "RELIGION - see also - CHURCHES," is listed the
Resolution at issue.
45.The acts of the Task Force are also unconstitutional in that they seek to
derogate certain religions in preference to others. The persons whose
testimony gave rise to the Resolution and many of the persons invited to
testify before the Task Force promote obvious religious preferences for
longer established religions which would, through the inquisition into "cults,"
enjoy a governmental preference over the targeted groups.
46.In the context of the Task Force investigation the Maryland University System
has distributed a questionnaire seeking to learn if any of its employees as
resident assistants are "cult members." Further, the Task Force has not limited
itself to deliberations in chambers, but has held meetings at several Maryland
University System campuses - spreading the prejudices created by its mandate
by promoting it as an investigation through the System.
47.A second questionnaire, this one created by the Task Force itself, asks
counselors to divulge confidential information volunteered by students about
their religious associations, in effect turning psychological counselors into
agents of the state to collect damaging intelligence about religious
organizations. These activities create a serious chilling effect upon the free
exercise of religion both by students and employees of the University System,
and also tend to dis-establish or restrict the ability of minority religions both
to exercise religious belief and to promote and establish their religion in the
face of such official antagonism. Such activities also constitute violations of
the rights of association and privacy of members of the targeted religious
organizations.
48.The issuance of a report by the Task Force would constitute a substantial
infringement of the free exercise of religion by those persons who belong to
religious minorities seeking to practice freely their faith, by chilling their
desire and ability freely to do so, and impinging upon and restricting their
rights of association and privacy. Similarly, the issuance and publication of
any "findings" of the Task Force derogatory of religious minorities would
tend to dis-establish or prevent the establishment of such religions.
49.The State legislature has acknowledged that funding for the activities is
derived from existing general state funds and the Resolution designates
employees on the state payroll to administer the activities of the Task Force.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
Violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of
the United States Constitution
50.Plaintiffs incorporate herein all paragraphs set forth above as if re-pleaded in
this Count.
51.By investigating the religious beliefs and practices of targeted religious
minorities, by mandating preferences for some religions over other religions,
by chilling the rights of adherents to certain religions to the practice of their
faith, and by utilizing government funds, government employees, government
facilities and government pronouncements in such endeavors, the defendants
have violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United
States Constitution.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
Violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment of
the United States Constitution
52.Plaintiffs incorporate herein all paragraphs set forth above as if re-pleaded in
this Count.
53.By investigating the religious beliefs and practices of targeted religious
minorities, by chilling the rights of plaintiffs and others from practicing their
religions, by impeding the right of dissemination and promulgation by
adherents of certain religions, and by utilizing government funds, government
employees, government facilities and government pronouncements in such
endeavors, the defendants have violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First
Amendment of the United States Constitution.
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
Violation of Article 36 of the Declaration of Rights of the
Maryland Constitution
54.Plaintiffs incorporate herein all paragraphs set forth above as if re-pleaded in
this Count.
55.By investigating the religious beliefs and practices of targeted religious
minorities, by impeding the right of dissemination and promulgation by
adherents of certain religions, by mandating preferences for some religions
over other religions, by chilling the rights of adherents to certain religions to
the practice of their faith, and by utilizing government funds, government
employees, government facilities and government pronouncements in such
endeavors, the defendants have violated Article 36 of the Declaration of
Rights of the Maryland Constitution.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
Violation of International Law Respecting Human Rights
56.Plaintiffs incorporate herein all paragraphs set forth above as if re-pleaded in
this Count.
57.The Resolution and subsequent implementation by the Task Force is
inconsistent with and violates the prescriptions and proscriptions of several
international treaties to which the United States is a signatory and thus is in
violation of the supreme law of the United States pursuant to Article VI of the
United States Constitution. The treaty provisions which are violated include
Articles 2, 7, 18, 19, and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
adopted and proclaimed by the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 217A(3) on
10 December 1948; Articles 2(1), 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted and opened for signature by
the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2200A(XXI) on December 16, 1966
and entered into force on March 23, 1976. These two United Nations
instruments require nondiscrimination, equality before the law, and equal
protection of the law without any discrimination as to all religious
organizations, including those which are newly established, nontraditional,
and/or originating or based in other countries.
58.The Maryland Resolution and its implementation are also in derogation of
Articles 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16 of the American Convention on Human Rights
signed by the Organization of American States on November 22, 1969 and
entered into force July 18, 1978.
59.The Resolution and its implementation are also inconsistent with the principles
set forth in Articles 13(f) and 16 (including sections (a) - (k)) of the
Concluding Document of the Vienna Meeting of Representatives of the
Participating States in Europe adopted in Vienna on January 17, 1989.
Relief Sought
Wherefor, plaintiffs seek:
1. A declaration that the Resolution is facially unconstitutional and
void;
2. A declaration that the conduct of the Task Force is unconstitutional;
3. A preliminary and permanent injunction against defendants from
implementation of the Resolution;
4. A preliminary and permanent injunction against defendants from
issuing any "report" or "findings" in the name of the Task Force.
5. Reasonable costs and fees arising out of this action.
Dated: August 16, 1999
Respectfully submitted,
______________________
Kendrick Moxon
MOXON & KOBRIN
3055 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 900
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 487-4468
Lee Boothby
4545 42nd St. NW, Suite 201
Washington D.C. 20016
(202) 363-1773
Eric Lieberman
RABINOWITZ, BOUDIN, STANDARD, KRINSKY &LIEBERMAN,
P.C.
740 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10003
(212) 254-1111
Counsel for Plaintiffs