A Catholic charter school in Oklahoma is facing backlash from atheists and threats of a lawsuit.

Oklahoma Approves Nation’s First Religious Public Charter School, Faces Backlash from Atheists and Other Groups

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the application of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School on Monday, marking the first time a state had approved a religiously affiliated charter school. The effort was championed by Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK), who praised the approval of the new charter school as a “win for religious liberty.”

But the approval of the new charter school has sparked controversy and legal threats from groups such as the Freedom from Religion Foundation and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. These groups argue that the use of taxpayer funds to pay for sectarian religious education violates the separation of church and state.

Legal Challenges Ahead

The Freedom from Religion Foundation has called Oklahoma’s approval of the school a “test case for the Catholic Church” and has indicated that it is considering “a direct legal challenge.” The organization’s Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor stated, “State officials have allowed their personal religious preferences to take precedence over the Constitution by voting to force taxpayers to support a Catholic charter school.”

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has also vowed to take legal action against Oklahoma, with its President and CEO Rachel Laser stating, “It’s hard to think of a clearer violation of the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers and public-school families than the state establishing the nation’s first religious public charter school.”

Defending the Separation of Church and State

Both groups had opposed St. Isidore’s application prior to its approval, citing violations of state and federal law. The controversy surrounding the approval of the nation’s first religious public charter school highlights the ongoing debate over the separation of church and state in America.

• The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the application of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, the nation’s first religiously affiliated public charter school.
• Legal challenges have been threatened by groups such as the Freedom from Religion Foundation and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, who argue that the use of taxpayer funds for sectarian religious education violates the separation of church and state.
• The controversy highlights the ongoing debate over the separation of church and state in America.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.