Devil in the detail: Oklahoma parks Catholic charter school after Satanic Temple warning

The Oklahoma School Board voted 5-0 against the Catholic Church’s plea for a virtual publicly funded charter school. This happened after receiving warnings that it could lead to the Satanic Temple requesting one of its own as well. Sean Cummings, a Catholic, spoke to the board during a public comment period, saying, “If you vote yes, you are not a victim. You are a volunteer when Lucien Greaves of the Satanic Temple wants to apply for a religious charter school.” Cummings praised his education from a Catholic school but argued that approving the application would violate the separation of church and state.

The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board is seeking further clarification regarding the Catholic Church’s application to establish a virtual school named “St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.” It will be the first public-funded religious charter school in the USA, if approved. The board’s decision leads to a 30-day window for the group to submit a revised application.

Five public speakers, including Cummings, requested the board not to vote in favor of the application for the charter school, stating that it is an online K-12 school with plans to sustain 1,500 students. Soon after the meeting began, the board members received information from legal counsel of Oklahoma Attorney General’s office on the state’s laws and constitutional sections that prohibit public funds for religious sects or institutions.

The board was also informed of “concerns,” including the plan to address funding commingling with public and private funds, as well as issues around the school’s pedagogical approach and the organization’s plan for special education. One board member had an issue with the way they received legal advice just before the planned vote. The board voted to seek further clarification from the Catholic charter organization regarding the concerns.

Oklahoma Republican and non-voting member of the board present, Ryan Walters, supported the application for the school. He stated that he would “stand by” any member who voted to approve the application despite the public dissent at the meeting.

The discussion on Tuesday then focused on concerns that the board is not covered under “qualified immunity” when it comes to potential legal challenges against the decision. Republican Oklahoma Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, is doubtful of the legality of approving the Catholic group’s application. He wrote in a letter recently that he doubts “most Oklahomans would want their tax dollars to fund a religious school whose tenets are diametrically opposed to their own faith.”