Gilfillan v. City of Philadelphia

Philadelphia violated the Establishment Clause by spending taxpayer funds to build a platform for a papal mass and rent chairs, sound system, and other decorations.

ReligiousLiberty.TV
February 26, 2026
0 min read
Cite This Case
Gilfillan v. City of Philadelphia, No. 637 F.2d 924 (1980).
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Gilfillan v. City of Philadelphia, No. 637 F.2d 924 (1980). https://religiousliberty.tv/case-library/gilfillan/
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Gilfillan v. City of Philadelphia (No. 637 F.2d 924) [1980] — Philadelphia violated the Establishment Clause by spending taxpayer funds to build a platform for a papal mass and rent chairs, sound system, and other decorations. Source: ReligiousLiberty.TV (https://religiousliberty.tv/case-library/gilfillan/, accessed April 11, 2026).
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Citation: 637 F.2d 924 Year: 1980
Holding: Philadelphia violated the Establishment Clause by spending taxpayer funds to build a platform for a papal mass and rent chairs, sound system, and other decorations.
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Gilfillan v. City of Philadelphia (637 F.2d 924) is a Church & State case in 1980. The court held that philadelphia violated the Establishment Clause by spending taxpayer funds to build a platform for a papal mass and rent chairs, sound system, and other decorations.