A pair of conservative, nonprofit law firms announced they have reached a settlement with the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) that will allow a previously-suspended Christian ministry to fully resume at Minnesota Correctional Facility-St. Cloud.
For years, Tony Schmitt had taught a voluntary, Christian course called the Quest for Authentic Manhood to prisoners who were incarcerated in the St. Cloud prison. The course offered inmates a chance to learn what it means to be men who follow Jesus Christ.
However, DOC terminated the course in 2023. In turn, Schmitt filed a federal lawsuit against DOC which said the department was illegally establishing a denominational preference and violating the First Amendment by banning the course.
According to the lawsuit, a DOC leader told Schmitt that his program “conflicts with the diversity, equity, and inclusivity values” of DOC and “teaches participants about manhood through a lens of discrimination, exclusivity, gender biases, and stereotypes.”
In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 ruling that allowed Schmitt to resume teaching the course until the matter is fully adjudicated. Now, the law firms representing Schmitt have announced that a settlement has been reached in the case.
Those law firms are the Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) and True North Legal, which is the legal arm of the Minnesota Family Council.
“I am thrilled that the Quest for Authentic Manhood program is back in the St. Cloud Correctional Facility,” Schmitt said in a press release. “For nearly twelve years, I have seen incarcerated men transform through the power of the Gospel, which they encounter through this program.”
“UMLC and True North Legal did an excellent job representing me and ensuring my rights were protected,” he added.
According to UMLC and True North Legal, the settlement allows Schmitt to keep teaching his course and he “remains free to speak on topics related to the program.”
Additionally, the law firms said DOC is covering litigation costs associated with the case, and the next Quest for Authentic Manhood course starts next week where “the course is already full and has a waiting list.”
“This case should never have been necessary,” UMLC President Doug Seaton said. “For more than a decade, Quest helped incarcerated men rebuild their lives, strengthen their character, and prepare to return to their families and communities. We are pleased this settlement allows the program to continue.”
Alpha News contacted DOC for this story but did not hear back.
“This outcome confirms that religious speech does not lose protection simply because it occurs inside a public institution,” True North Legal attorney Doug Wardlow said. “The First Amendment requires government neutrality toward religious viewpoints, not hostility.”
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
