A group supported by the Unification Church sued the State of Maryland on Monday, charging that a report ordered by the General Assembly on cult activity on campus amounts to unconstitutional interference with religious groups.

The International Coalition for Religious Freedom,

ALSO SEE: Join the debate: Are colleges doing enough to protect new students from cults? When colleges warn students about groups considered to be cults, are the colleges engaged in a form of religious discrimination? (The responses)

which receives money from the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's church, sued in federal court with several other Maryland residents.

"We feel it's inappropriate to be designating groups with a derogatory term such as 'cults,'" said Dan Fefferman, executive director of the coalition. He said the state's appointing a committee to prepare the report "creates a chilling effect on religious freedom."

The suit seeks a temporary injunction preventing the committee from presenting the General Assembly with its report, which is due by the end of September. No court date has been set.

The Task Force to Study the Effects of Cult Activities on Public Senior Higher Education was created partially in response to parental concerns that their children in college were subject to considerable influence from some groups.

William T. Wood, chairman of the panel, said it was studying all types of groups, not just religious ones, that have adverse effects on students and their families.

"The plaintiffs want to turn this task force into a religious inquisition, when it is not," he said. "These are completely inaccurate allegations."

Joan T. Marionni, a member of the panel, said the recommendations would probably include advice to colleges on how to establish clear ethical guidelines and regulations to govern campus groups. She indicated that the report would also suggest ways for institutions to inform students of their rights, and to teach them what constitutes harassment.

Over all, the committee has found that the existence of cults or other dangerous groups is not a widespread problem on Maryland campuses. There are only isolated instances in which students get involved in various groups and are distracted from academics and family life, according to members of the panel.

"It's not a major issue within the institutions," Mr. Wood said. "But it is a major issue to the families involved."

Information was collected through public meetings and surveys.

Mr. Fefferman said he had noticed that the committee focused on religious groups and did not inquire about Greek chapters or athletics teams, which he said could also have an effect on students.

Ms. Marionni said the panel had tried to widen the focus of the inquiry beyond just religion and cults, even though those are the areas that keep drawing attention. "The task force itself has been very uncomfortable with this," she said.

JOIN THE DEBATE