{"id":2429265,"date":"2025-04-30T13:37:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T17:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-seems-open-to-allowing-oklahoma-catholic-charter-school-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-30T13:38:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T17:38:47","slug":"supreme-court-seems-open-to-allowing-oklahoma-catholic-charter-school-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-seems-open-to-allowing-oklahoma-catholic-charter-school-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court seems open to allowing Oklahoma Catholic charter school &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsupreme-court-seems-open-to-allowing-oklahoma-catholic-charter-school-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2429265&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Supreme Court recently heard a significant case regarding the potential establishment of Oklahoma&#8217;s first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oklahoma-approves-first-religious-charter-school-in-united-states\/\" title=\"Fir... ... approved in Oklahoma.\">taxpayer-funded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/devil-in-the-detail-oklahoma-parks-catholic-charter-school-after-satanic-temple-warning\/\" title=\"Devil in the detail: Oklahoma parks Catholic ... ... after Satanic Temple warning\">religious charter school<\/a><\/a>, St.Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. this proposed K-12 school, operated by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, would incorporate Catholic teachings into its curriculum. Even though it has not yet opened due to ongoing litigation, its approval could have substantial implications for the first Amendment&#8217;s religion clauses and the future of public education in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The case has sparked intense debate over the separation of religion and state-funded education, creating divisions even among Oklahoma&#8217;s Republican officials. While Oklahoma&#8217;s Republican Governor Kevin Stitt and the Trump governance support the creation of the religious charter school,the state&#8217;s Attorney General Gentner Drummond contends that it violates constitutional restrictions on government involvement in religion.<\/p>\n<p>During oral arguments,some justices expressed concerns about potential discrimination against religious entities within charter school programs,suggesting that excluding religious applicants could be viewed as unfair. Though, Drummond maintained that charter schools in Oklahoma must remain secular, as ruled by the state supreme Court. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">ongoing discussions reflect broader concerns<\/a> about the implications of religious instruction in publicly funded institutions.<\/p>\n<p>A decision from the Supreme Court is anticipated by the end of June, and the outcome may hinge on the justices&#8217; willingness to resolve the split opinions on this contentious issue.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Supreme Court seems open to allowing Oklahoma Catholic charter school<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video\">\n<div id=\"Brid_24824\" class=\"brid\" style=\"width:1280;height:720;\"> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Supreme Court<\/a> heard arguments on Wednesday in a pivotal case over whether <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oklahoma\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oklahoma<\/a> may establish the nation&rsquo;s first taxpayer-funded religious charter school &mdash; a legal showdown with sweeping implications for the First Amendment&rsquo;s religion clauses and the future of public education.<\/p>\n<p>The proposed school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, would offer K&ndash;12 instruction infused with Catholic doctrine and operated by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. Though never opened due to litigation, if approved, it would be the first religious charter school in the country.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3396311\/bill-would-eliminate-penny-production-trump-wasteful\/\">Lawmakers announce bill to eliminate penny production after Trump slams coin as &#8216;wasteful&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3396299\/ro-khanna-agrees-trump-democrats-raise-taxes-billionaires\/\">Ro Khanna agrees with Trump that Democrats want to raise taxes on billionaires<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/3396386\/trump-trade-war-hits-san-francisco-chinatown\/\">Trump&#8217;s trade war hits San Francisco&#8217;s Chinatown<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The case has triggered fierce debate over the role of religion in publicly funded education and sharply divided Republican officials in Oklahoma. Republican Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kevin-stitt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kevin Stitt\">Kevin Stitt<\/a> and the Trump administration support the school&rsquo;s creation, while Republican state Attorney General <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/gentner-drummond\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kevin Stitt\">Gentner Drummond<\/a> argues it violates constitutional limits on government involvement in religion.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kavanaugh wonders if Oklahoma AG is engaging in &lsquo;rank discrimination&rsquo; against religion<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><\/figure>\n<p>The court&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-may-soon-undercut-bidens-regulatory-regime\/\" title=\"... likely to weaken Biden&#039;s regulatory framework soon\">conservative justices appeared open<\/a> to the idea that excluding religious applicants from a state&rsquo;s charter school program could amount to &ldquo;rank discrimination,&rdquo; as Justice Brett Kavanaugh put it.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Justice Gorsuch pointed out earlier, a state could easily design a different kind of charter school system where they really were government-run, government-controlled, government-created, government-established private charter schools,&rdquo; Kavanaugh said. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s not what some states have. They open it up to private people to apply, and then when you say to someone, &lsquo;You&rsquo;re no good because you&rsquo;re religious,&rsquo; they&rsquo;re not asking for special treatment, they&rsquo;re not asking for favoritism. They&rsquo;re just saying, &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t treat us worse because we&rsquo;re religious.&rsquo; That just seems like a core principle,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond stands during the national anthem at the inauguration ceremonies on Jan. 9, 2023, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Drummond, however, has maintained that Oklahoma&rsquo;s charter schools function as public schools and must, therefore, remain secular. In a brief to the Supreme Court, he wrote that allowing religious instruction in a state-funded charter school would run afoul of the establishment clause.<\/p>\n<p>Oklahoma&rsquo;s Supreme Court agreed in a 6&ndash;2 ruling last year, holding that the charter would make St. Isidore a &ldquo;governmental entity&rdquo; acting as &ldquo;a surrogate of the state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>James Campbell, representing the Oklahoma Charter School Board, countered that St. Isidore is a private initiative run by a religious nonprofit organization with full control over its curriculum and leadership. &ldquo;Under this court&rsquo;s test, Saint Isidore is neither the government nor engaged in state action,&rdquo; Campbell said.<\/p>\n<p>Chief Justice John Roberts struck a more cautious tone, noting that past religious liberty cases concerned more limited benefits, such as playground upgrades or school tuition reimbursement. &ldquo;This does strike me as a much more comprehensive involvement,&rdquo; Roberts said.<\/p>\n<p>The court&rsquo;s liberal bloc, led by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, raised sharp concerns over whether religious charter schools could impose doctrinal restrictions on students or exclude certain teachings. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to pay religious leaders to teach their religion,&rdquo; Sotomayor said bluntly.<\/p>\n<p>A decision in the case is expected by the end of June. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a former professor at Notre Dame Law School, recused herself without explanation. The school is represented in part by Notre Dame&rsquo;s religious liberty clinic.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How will the justices decide?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson listen as President Donald Trump speaks during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Based on the oral arguments Wednesday morning, it appears at least three of the Democratic-appointed justices seemed inclined to undo the state Supreme Court&rsquo;s decision last year.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3392035\/oklahoma-attorney-general-gentner-drummond-breaks-gop-ranks-catholic-charter-school-fight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL BREAKS GOP RANKS IN CATHOLIC CHARTER SCHOOL LEGAL FIGHT<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But with some boisterous skepticism from members of the high court, including Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Kavanaugh, and Gorsuch, it might come down to whether Roberts is willing to form a 5-3 decision.<\/p>\n<p>If the case deadlocks at 4-4, it could spell trouble for St. Isidore&rsquo;s future in Oklahoma.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_24824\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"playlist\":\"24824\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court may permit Oklahoma&#8217;s first religious charter school<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2429266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AP25108771880596.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[42529,5152,33211,12474,32275],"class_list":["post-2429265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-catholic-charter-school","tag-education","tag-legal-news","tag-oklahoma","tag-supreme-court"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AP25108771880596.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2429265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2429265"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2429265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2429269,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2429265\/revisions\/2429269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2429266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2429265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2429265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2429265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}