True North Legal and the Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) secured a settlement with the Minnesota Department of Corrections allowing Quest for Authentic Manhood, a voluntary Christian prison ministry program led by Anthony Schmitt, to continue at the Minnesota Correctional Facility – St. Cloud.
“I am thrilled that the Quest for Authentic Manhood program is back in the St. Cloud Correctional Facility,” said Tony Schmitt, leader of the Quest program at the prison. “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.”
Schmitt began offering Quest for Authentic Manhood at St. Cloud in 2012. The program helps incarcerated men understand the Gospel, biblical manhood, and how to become better men for their families and communities. It quickly became one of the most successful programs offered at the facility, regularly filling classes and generating waiting lists.
In July 2023, the Department of Corrections terminated the program, stating that its “biblical lens” conflicted with the Department’s diversity, equity, and inclusivity values. True North Legal and UMLC filed suit in January 2024, arguing the cancellation violated the First Amendment’s protections for religious freedom and free speech.
In August 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled in Schmitt’s favor, concluding that the DOC likely engaged in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination when it terminated the program because of its “biblical view of masculinity.” The court ordered the DOC to allow the program to resume while the case continued.
The trial team that secured the result for Mr. Schmitt included Brent Robbins, Counsel, Religious Liberty, UMLC, Doug Wardlow, Director of Litigation, True North Legal, Renee Carlson, General Counsel, True North Legal, and Allie Howell, Trial & Appellate Counsel, UMLC.
“This case should never have been necessary,” said Doug Seaton, President of the Upper Midwest Law Center. “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.”
Under the settlement, Schmitt will continue offering Quest for Authentic Manhood at St. Cloud and remains free to speak on topics related to the program. The DOC will also cover litigation costs.
“This outcome confirms that religious speech does not lose protection simply because it occurs inside a public institution,” said Wardlow. “The First Amendment requires government neutrality toward religious viewpoints, not hostility. True North Legal is grateful that Tony Schmitt can continue serving the men at St. Cloud prison.”
Schmitt’s next Quest for Authentic Manhood program is scheduled to begin on May 19, 2026. The course is already full and has a waiting list.