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SoCalHoops High School News

Southern Section Sued Over Releaguing--(Aug. 27, 1998)

The debate over having private schools play against only private schools, and the CIF's decision to place Orange County's four parochial schools, and two in LA County into a parochial only league, has resulted in the filing of a complaint with the State Department of Education alleging religious discrimination. A parent of two athletes at Damien of La Verne has filed the action, contending that the Southern Section engaged in religious discrimination when the Orange County Schools, including Mater Dei and Santa Margarita, along with Damien and St. Lucy's of Glendora, were moved into the new league. Thomas Higgins claims the special circumstances, which were never defined before the Section voted to move the schools, boiled down to discrimination based on religion. The State Board of Education has given the Southern Section 60 days to respond to the complaint and could open a review after the response is received.