A judge in West Virginia has ruled in favor of a $5 million state grant to a Catholic trade school, concluding that the funds were designated for secular use and do not violate constitutional provisions.

On Sept. 25, 2025, West Virginia Judge Richard Lindsay dismissed a lawsuit aiming to block state funds from going to the College of St. Joseph the Worker, finding the money was allocated strictly for economic development purposes, as CNA reports.

The lawsuit was initially filed by the American Humanist Association, which challenged the planned grant issued by the West Virginia Water Development Authority. The organization argued that the grant violated Article III of the state constitution, which forbids the use of public money to support churches or ministries.

The grant was intended to facilitate the expansion of the College of St. Joseph the Worker, located in Steubenville, Ohio, into West Virginia. The school provides vocational training in fields such as carpentry, HVAC repair, electrical work, and plumbing, and also offers a bachelor's degree in Catholic studies.

Judge Lindsay initially granted a temporary block on the funding in July 2025 after the lawsuit was presented. He stated that the court needed further clarification to determine whether the funds would support any religious activities or infrastructure.

Judge Rules Grant Has Secular Purpose

In his Sept. 25 ruling, Lindsay stated that the documentation provided confirmed the grant would be directed solely toward real estate purchases, site preparation, construction, and infrastructure. These objectives, he said, align with the state's constitutional requirement that public funds not support religious institutions.

"The entirety of the grant is being used for economic development only," wrote Lindsay in his opinion, emphasizing that the agreement between the college and the state made its secular scope clear.

The grant originates from the West Virginia Water Development Authority, an agency empowered to distribute funds that advance economic growth in the state. The judge determined that since the college’s use of the funds was confined to nonreligious development, constitutional concerns were no longer valid.

Grant Use Sparks Initial Controversy

The American Humanist Association originally denounced the grant as a constitutional violation and "an affront to West Virginia taxpayers." The group argued that even indirect support of religious organizations could breach the required separation between church and state.

Judge Lindsay acknowledged that the group had "rightfully" questioned the funding, noting their concern stemmed from how the funds might be used. However, he said the assurances made by both the state and the college eliminated any legal ambiguity.

He concluded that there was “no genuine issue of material fact” remaining in the case and dismissed the lawsuit as the legal foundation for the challenge no longer applied based on the clarified use of funds.

School Official Assures No Religious Use

Michael Sullivan, president of the College of St. Joseph the Worker, affirmed that the grant money would not be applied toward religious activities. He stated that no portion would go toward promoting faith or compensating teachers, including those involved with the school’s religious studies program.

The bachelor’s degree in Catholic studies remains a part of the curriculum at the college. According to the institution, the program is designed to help students incorporate religious principles in their personal and professional lives, but the West Virginia grant will not finance this aspect of the school.

As of Sept. 30, the college had not issued a public comment on the legal outcome or the court’s decision to lift the funding block, despite requests for further input.

Secular Use Satisfies Court and Critics

The ruling appears to have satisfied critics who originally objected to the grant. On Sept. 26, the American Humanist Association released a statement expressing contentment with the court’s clarification about the grant’s applications.

While the organization maintained its beliefs about the importance of church-state separation, it acknowledged that the clarified use of funds removed its legal and ethical objections. The group did not announce plans to appeal the decision.

The case had sparked statewide attention over the summer, reflecting broader national debates surrounding public funding and religiously affiliated institutions. As economic development and legal safeguards intersect, decisions like these illustrate the fine balance courts must navigate.