Court rejects anti-prostitution 'pledge' in anti-AIDS program

By Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer

updated 1:00 PM EDT, Thu June 20, 2013

Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court has ruled the federal government may not deny funds from its global anti-AIDS program to organizations that refuse to actively oppose prostitution.

In a 6-2 decision on Thursday, the justices determined the policy requiring fund recipients adhere to a larger message about fighting disease and its root causes was not directly related to the "core" mandate of the AIDS program.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the opinion for the majority, said the 2003 law violated the First Amendment. The ruling tosses out the policy.

The case was closely watched by many U.S.-based non-governmental organizations that distribute financial and other assistance overseas.

READ MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/20/politics/scotus-anti-aids-program/index.html