Oklahoma AG sues to halt first US public religious school.
Oklahoma Attorney General Sues to Stop Publicly Funded Religious School
Oklahoma’s attorney general, Gentner Drummond, has taken legal action to prevent the establishment of the first publicly funded religious school in the United States. Drummond, a Republican, argues that approving a Catholic school would set a dangerous precedent and open the door for the approval of other religious schools.
“Absent the intervention of this court, the board members’ shortsighted votes in violation of their oath of office and the law will pave the way for a proliferation of the direct public funding of religious schools whose tenets are diametrically opposed by most Oklahomans,” the suit, filed with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, stated.
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Drummond expressed concern that the approval of the Catholic school could set a precedent for funding radical Muslim teachings like Sharia law. He filed the lawsuit against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, which approved the application for the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School despite objections from the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Constitution prohibits public schools from being controlled by any specific religion and from using public funds to support religious institutions. The board’s approval is seen as a violation of these constitutional provisions and the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, which requires charter schools to be nonsectarian.
The lawsuit argues that the board members who voted for the approval failed in their duty to deny the application and seeks to rectify their unlawful action. The board and the Catholic Archdiocese have not responded to the suit.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, also a Republican, criticized the lawsuit as a “political stunt” and defended the establishment of the Catholic school as a victory for religious and education freedom. Stitt emphasized that parents should have the right to choose the best education for their children, regardless of income or religious preference.
Drummond, on the other hand, believes that taxpayer money should be focused on improving educational outcomes rather than funding religious teachings. He argues that religion is best taught in homes and churches with the guidance of parents and pastors.
What are the potential implications of the court’s decision in the lawsuit on the funding of religious education in other states
Noreferrer”>Drummond said in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed by Drummond challenges the Oklahoma State Board of Education’s decision to authorize and provide funding for a new Catholic school in Mustang, a small city outside of Oklahoma City. The school, named Saint Eugene, would be the first publicly funded religious school in the state, and possibly in the entire country.
The lawsuit argues that the approval of this publicly funded religious school violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the government from establishing or favoring any religion. Drummond contends that by providing public funds to support a religious school, the state is effectively promoting and endorsing a particular religious belief.
In addition to the constitutional concerns, Drummond raises practical issues with the approval of the Catholic school. He claims that using public funds for religious education would divert resources away from public schools that are already struggling to meet the needs of their students. Critics of publicly funded religious schools argue that such institutions often lack the same degree of accountability and oversight as public schools, putting taxpayer money at risk of being mismanaged or misused.
Supporters of the Catholic school, on the other hand, emphasize the importance of parental choice in education. They argue that parents should have the option to send their children to a school that aligns with their religious beliefs, and that public funds should be used to support this choice. They contend that public funds are already being used for various educational programs and initiatives, and providing funding for a religious school is simply an extension of that support.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the funding of religious education across the country. If the court upholds Drummond’s argument and blocks the establishment of the publicly funded Catholic school, it could set a precedent for similar challenges in other states. On the other hand, if the court rules in favor of the Catholic school, it could open the door for the approval of more publicly funded religious schools in Oklahoma and beyond.
As the legal battle unfolds, the debate surrounding publicly funded religious schools is likely to intensify. Advocates on both sides will make their case for what they believe is in the best interest of the students and the broader community. Ultimately, it will be up to the courts to determine whether the establishment of a publicly funded religious school is constitutional and in accordance with the principles of religious freedom and separation of church and state.
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