Board of Education of Central School District No. 1 v. Allen/Concurrence Harlan

by John Marshall Harlan II

United States Supreme Court

392 U.S. 236

Board of Education of Central School District No. 1  v.  Allen

 Argued: April 22, 1968. --- Decided: June 10, 1968

Mr. Justice HARLAN, concurring.

Although I join the opinion and judgment of the Court, I wish to emphasize certain of the principles which I believe to be central to the determination of this case, and which I think are implicit in the Court's decision.

The attitude of government toward religion must, as this Court has frequently observed, be one of neutrality. Neutrality is, however, a coat of many colors. It requires that 'government neither engage in nor compel religious practices, that it effect no favoritism among sects or between religion and nonreligion, and that it work deterrence of no religious belief.' Abington Tp. School District v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203, 305, 83 S.Ct. 1560, 1615, 10 L.Ed.2d 844 (concurring opinion of Goldberg, J.). Realization of these objectives entails 'no simple and clear measure,' id., at 306, 83 S.Ct., at 1615, by which this or any case may readily be decided, but these objectives do suggest the principles which I believe to be applicable in the present circumstances. I would hold that where the contested governmental activity is calculated to achieve nonreligious purposes otherwise within the competence of the State, and where the activity does not involve the State 'so significantly and directly in the realm of the sectarian as to give rise to * * * divisive influences and inhibitions of freedom,' id., at 307, 83 S.Ct., at 1616 it is not forbidden by the religious clauses of the First Amendment.

In my opinion, § 701 of the Education Law of New York does not employ religion as its standard for action or inaction, and is not otherwise inconsistent with these principles.

Mr. Justice BLACK, dissenting.

Notes