Catholic Center cannot become a “charter” school for a divided failure of the US supreme

A Catholic educational center of Oklahoma City can no longer become the first religious school charter of the United States because the Supreme Court refused to make a decision, leaving intact the ruling of a lower court that prohibits the Catholic institution from accessing state funds.

A school charter It is an institution with public financing and free registration. Also, their administrators accept a higher level of accountability in exchange for more autonomy.

In His ruling on Thursday, May 22the high court reported that the votes of the judges were divided into 4 in favor and 4 against whether or not to allow the launch of the San Isidoro Catholic School of Seville in the state of Oklahoma.

The ruling maintains an order of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma that established that the use of public funds by the school would violate state and federal laws.

“The sentence is confirmed by a court with an equal vote,” said the order without sign.

The decision by the court He pointed out that Judge Amy Coney Barrett “did not participate in the consideration or decision” of the case. Barrett had been challenged for unknown reasons, although it was probably due to its links with the University of Notre Dame, whose clinic of religious freedom helped the Catholic School in your application before the Supreme Court.

Last month, the judges of conservative tendency of the high court They were favorable to the creation of the school, while the liberal judges were more skeptical of the proposal.

The question was whether the school charter Catholic would violate the laws related to Church-State separation and the establishment of a state-funded religion. Schools charter They are private institutions funded by the Government, as are public schools.

Oklahoma’s attorney general, Gentner Drummond, opposed the incorporation of the school, claiming that he violated federal and state laws. The prosecutor referred to the institution as a “religious school established by the State” and described it as “disgusting to federal laws and Oklahoma.” He claimed that Oklahoma could be forced to subsidize “radical” Islamic “schools if he allowed the Catholic institution to access public funds.

For its part, the school had the support of defenders of religious freedom, as well as the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, both involved in its creation.

Last month, the Archbishop of Oklahoma City, Mons. Paul Coakley; and the bishop of Tulsa, Mons. David Konderla, said that “they prayed and expected a decision that respects the religious freedom and the right of Oklahoma’s families to make their own decisions by selecting the best educational options for their children.”

However, before Thursday’s ruling, the prelates declared to be “disappointed” for the confirmation of the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma, without any explanation.

“We maintain firm our commitment to offer exceptional education to families and students throughout the state of Oklahoma,” they said. “And we maintain our commitment to the freedom of choice of parents in education, providing equal opportunities to all those who seek options by deciding what is best for their children.”

Meanwhile, the Office of the Attorney General Drummond declared Ewtn News on Thursday, a company to which ACI Press belongs – that the ruling “represents a overwhelming victory for religious freedom and for the fundamental principles that have guided our nation since its foundation.”

“This ruling guarantees that Oklahoma taxpayers are not forced to finance radical Islamic schools, while protecting the religious law of families to choose the school they want for their children,” he said.

The school had received The support of the United States Catholic Bishops Conferencewhich declared before the Supreme Court last month that this type of centers has “played for a long time the function of educating the students” of the country and that the participation of San Isidore in the state program “would not make it a state actor.”

Two dozen writings were presented friend of the court before the Supreme Court in support of the school charter Catholic, including those of the Attorney General’s Office and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.

Twelve states, including Ohio, Texas, South Carolina and Kansas, also supported school, arguing in a letter that had an imperious interest in expanding educational opportunities for their citizens.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.