This week in Christian history: Answers in Genesis sues Kentucky; the first Bonfire of the Vanities
Answers in Genesis sues Kentucky over Ark Encounter tax rebate exclusion – Feb. 5, 2015
This week marks the anniversary of when Answers in Genesis sued Kentucky over the Christian apologetics group’s Ark Encounter project being excluded from a state tax rebate program.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Central Division at Frankfort, the complaint accused state officials of discriminating by wrongfully barring the young Earth creationist organization from participation in the Kentucky Tourism Development Program.
Officials had argued that Answers in Genesis was ineligible due to the Ark Encounter program having a religious preference and the ministry giving preferential treatment to Christianity over other faiths.
However, in 2016, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled in favor of Answers in Genesis, concluding that the state had engaged in religious discrimination.
Answers in Genesis was represented in part by future U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson.
