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
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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📎 Document links found in our articles: 📄 SupremeCourt.gov PDF

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.