FRC to Join Sen. Mike Lee, Education Leaders at News Conference On How SCOTUS Marriage Ruling Could Threaten Tax Exempt Status for Educational Institutions

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May 28, 2015, 05:40 ET

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Next month's Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage and the consequences for religious institutions will be the focus of a Senate swamp news conference held by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Wednesday, June 3, at 11:00 a.m. Family Research Council will join Senator Lee and several University officials in responding to comments made during oral arguments by Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, Jr.

Looking ahead to a possible constitutional right to same-sex "marriage," Justice Samuel Alito asked a key question: "In the Bob Jones case, the Court held that a college was not entitled to tax-exempt status if it opposed interracial marriage or interracial dating. So would the same apply to a university or a college if it opposed same-sex marriage?" Verrilli admitted, "It's certainly going to be an issue. I don't deny that. I don't deny that, Justice Alito. It is -- it is going to be an issue."

A letter to Congress signed by more than 70 educational leaders from across the country will be released at the news conference. The letter expresses "deep concern about the potential loss of tax-exempt status for educational institutions should the Supreme Court find constitutional legitimacy for same-sex marriage."

WHO: Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah)

Dr. Samuel Oliver, President, Union University

Dr. Jerry Johnson, President, National Religious Broadcasters; former President of Criswell College

Dr. Keith Wiebe, President, American Association of Christian Schools

Travis Weber, Director of the Center for Religious Liberty at the Family Research Council

WHAT: News conference discussing how a Supreme Court ruling redefining marriage could impact religious educational institutions

WHEN: June 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. ET

WHERE: Senate Swamp, located across from the Capitol's Senate steps

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SOURCE Family Research Council