A Christian school could be forced to close even as it fights tor its religious freedom, The Christian Post is reporting.
The northern California River View Christian Academy serves troubled teens from across the U.S.
But a law passed three years ago mandates many alternative boarding schools in California to attain Community Care Licensing, according to the Post.
However, to get the licensing, the school is concerned it would to be unable to uphold its rules on traditional Christian teaching regarding marriage and sexuality. And the school maintains the state requires licensed facilities to allow students to engage in spiritual and sexual exploration.
"We have been kind of harassed by the state of California Department of Social Services (DSS). Specifically, it's called Community Care Licensing," RVCA CEO Phil Ludwig told the Post.
The school said it comes under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Education.
The facility was raided Jan. 18 when 16 armed law enforcement officers and 17 social workers searched the facility after a report it was stockpiling weapons, according to a lawsuit filed against the DSS.
No weapons were found, but DSS began imposing daily fines of about $200 for operating as an "unlicensed community care facility."
The school's lawsuit was dismissed.
Meanwhile a September 2018 article by BuzzFeed News claimed former students and employees at the academy said students were disciplined if they even discussed the idea of being gay.
Ludwig called the article "completely ridiculous."
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