Reading Room Document

Application of the Coreligionists Exemption in Title VII ofthe Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-l(a), to Religious Organizations That Would Directly Receive Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Funds Pursuant to Section 704

This opinion examines the constitutionality of providing Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ("SAMHSA") funds to religious organizations under various scenarios. The opinion concludes that while there is no categorical funding prohibition, discrimination in favor of coreligionists in a program that directly receives SAMHSA funds raises "difficult and unresolved constitutional questions." The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at https://justice.gov/olc/page/file/936211/download.

October 12, 2000