Coming to the U.S. Supremes -- Another Opportunity To Destroy the Separation of Church and State

 

St. Isidore of Seville

Amy Coney Barrett has already recused herself from St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond, the church/state case arising out of Oklahoma which the Supreme Court decided on Friday to put on its docket. Oklahoma, even more problematic than my native Texas, has that statewide Superintendent of Schools who wants to include mandatory Bible reading in every curriculum of every public school in the state. No, really. So it's not necessarily shocking that the St. Isidore case would be Oklahoma-born.

St. Isidore, owned by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, would become the nation’s first religious charter school, plus it would be entirely online, and its curriculum "would embed [Roman Catholic] religious teachings throughout lessons, including in math and reading classes. As a charter school, it would be run independently from traditional public schools. But public taxpayer dollars would pay for the school, and it would be free for students to attend" (Troy Closson).

The Archdiocese made application to the 5-member state board of education in June 2023. It proved controversial. The board ultimately voted 3-to-2 to approve it, but the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked its creation:

"Justice James Winchester wrote in the majority opinion that state law requires a public charter school to be nonsectarian, arguing that the Oklahoma Constitution prohibits the state from using public money for the benefit or support of any religious institution. A 2016 ballot measure in the state would have repealed that measure, but voters rejected that effort." (OSV News)

So now it's before the Alito Court (who is himself Catholic), supported by all kinds of people who see no problem forcing the Christian religion into people's faces. Barrett was previously a law professor at Notre Dame who recused possibly because she is close friends with a Notre Dame law professor who has helped advise the St. Isidore team.

The Drummond who's defendant is Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond.