A Kentucky Baptist children’s home is being sued by a public taxpayer group who want to stop state funding because the home is a ‘faith based agency’. After a series of back and forth decisions, the U.S. 6th Circuit voted to allow the lawsuit to continue and the home says it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case has been going on since 2000, but in spite of a Supreme Court decision in 2007 to limit the ability of taxpayers to sue based on violations of religious freedom. The 6th Circuit voted to reverse the last dismissal without any of the judges even asking a question. Arguments on both sides concern religious issues such as Biblical content in education programs, the firing of an employee who admitted to being a lesbian (and is now a member of the group bringing the lawsuit), and other claims.

Sunrise Children’s Services (the new name of the Baptist agency) receives millions of dollars in state funds each year – as do many other faith based orphanages throughout the U.S.