When may a public facility exclude religion?

[Bryan McGraw]

My sister is getting married next year in Chicago and has considered 
having the ceremony at the Art Institute of Chicago.  In getting 
information from the Institute, she learned that it has a rule regarding 
wedding ceremonies that states "religious-specific ceremonies are not 
allowed."  The Institute receives about 5% of its operating revenue from 
the Chicago Park District (about $6.79 million in 2007, according to its 
own reports available here: 
http://www.artic.edu/aic/aboutus/annual_report_2007/FY07_ConsolidatedRe.pdf).   
It's a bit unclear as to what the rule actually means in practice, but 
supposing that it would preclude a wedding ceremony presided over by a 
minister where religious ceremonies (prayer, hymns, etc.) would be 
conducted, does such a restriction pass constitutional muster?  Should it?


Bryan McGraw
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Wheaton College