The United States Supreme Court, by its historic 4-4 vote, has rejected an effort by St. Isidore of Seville Catholic School to become a publicly funded Charter School.
From the outset, it has seemed to us this blatantly unconstitutional and mixing of state and church was not at all wise. Nearly two years ago when the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted to approve an application for a Catholic Charter virtual school that would create the first publicly funded religious charter school in the nation we questioned then it’s constitutionality and said it would immediately cause controversy.
It did just that. The Highest Court in the land’s decision to reject St. Isidore as a publicly funded charter school came a week ago today. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following statement after the Court’s 4-4 decision in the St. Isidore case.
The divided ruling upholds the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision to prevent taxpayer-funded religious public charter schools.
“The Supreme Court’s decision represents a resounding victory for religious liberty and for the foundational principles that have guided our nation since its founding. This ruling ensures that Oklahoma taxpayers will not be forced to fund radical Islamic schools, while protecting the religious rights of families to choose any school they wish for their children.
“I have always maintained that we must faithfully uphold the Constitution, even when it requires us to make difficult decisions. I will continue upholding the law, protecting our Christian values, and defending religious liberty—regardless of how difficult the battle may be.”
Drummond has previously stated, “The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers.”
He further noted, “It’s extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the state to potential legal action that could be costly.”
When Oklahoma’s Gov. Kevin Stitt agreed with the original decision of the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board calling it ‘a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state,” we took issue with it then.
We said the governor was way off track and blatantly wrong in supporting such an unprecedented decision. He should have been more focused on our public schools and their needs rather than on an issue that appears contrary to state law.
While private education plays a role in our state, we believe it should be funded by private dollars as it has been throughout the history of Oklahoma. There is no need to be providing public funds for private eduction, as this decision would do.
What the Charter School Board members almost did two years ago was to open the door tother religious institutions to do the same.
Drummond took his fight first to the Oklahoma State Supreme Court which agreed with the AG and rejected St. Isidore on its constitutionalily.
Then, when it was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, he continued the fight there and also won.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision is so important, otherwise a dangerous precedent could have been set regarding the fundamental issue of public funded education.