Supreme Court to Consider Challenge to Michigan Ban on Religious School Funding on Sept. 30

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Parents argue the ban violates the Constitutionโ€™s Equal Protection Clause.

The Supreme Court said on July 31 that it will formally consider on Sept. 30 whether to hear a challenge to Michiganโ€™s ban on government funding of religious schools.

The case comes as the school choice movement, which aims to give parents an opportunity to keep their children out of under-performing government-run schools by providing alternative education funding strategies, has enjoyed a string of victories at the nationโ€™s highest court in recent years.

The Supreme Court voted 6โ€“3 in 2022 to strike down a Maine law that excluded families from a student aid program if they chose to send their children to religious schools. In Carson v. Makin, the court held that the program violated the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.

That clause guarantees Americans the right to practice religion as they see fit. It has also been held to protect actions carried out in pursuit of religious beliefs, subject to some exceptions.

The Supreme Court voted 5โ€“4 in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020) that Montanaโ€™s decision to exclude religious schools from a state scholarship program funded by tax credits also offended the free exercise clause.

The prohibition against state funding appears in Article VIII, Section 2, of the Michigan Constitution, and applies to all private schools, whether they are religious or nonreligious in nature.

Many states have such provisionsโ€”known as Blaine Amendmentsโ€”in their state constitutions.

The original Blaine Amendment, which was proposed in Congress, was โ€œโ€˜born of bigotryโ€™ and โ€˜arose at a time of pervasive hostility to the Catholic Church and to Catholics in general,โ€ the Supreme Court stated in the Espinoza decision.

โ€œMany of its state counterparts have a similarly โ€˜shameful pedigree,โ€™โ€ the court said.

In the case at hand, the petitioners argue that the Michigan funding ban violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Lead petitioner Jill Hile, along with the Parent Advocates for Choice in Education Foundation and other parents of school-age children who want to secure public assistance for their childrenโ€™s private religious school tuition in the state, filed a petition with the Supreme Court on April 4.

Byย Matthew Vadum

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

250 Countdown

Those 56 intrepid men who signed put their very lives, honor and fortunes on the line. There was no auto-quill to accommodate their signatures.ย 

How the Senate Parliamentarian Changed the OBBB

An unelected bureaucrat does a important job in the U.S. Senate. Elizabeth MacDonough enforces senate rules on Trumpโ€™s โ€œOne Big Beautiful Billโ€.

Bioterror Roundup: CDC Director Nominee Is a Monster + New mRNA Pregnancy Studies

Bioterror Propaganda Roundup: The latest updates on the โ€œnew...

The Sacred Honor of the 56

Today we're celebrating the sacred honor of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Alligator Alcatraz: A Bold Step Toward Secure Borders

Alligator Alcatraz funded through FEMA, represents a decisive move by the Trump admin to address illegal immigration with efficiency and resolve.

New White House Faith Office Aims to Ensure US Is Beacon of Freedom for Others

The White House Faith Office wants to see the United States as the leader in advancing religious freedom, its faith director Jennifer Korn said.

Federal Reserve Rates Are Too High, Says Former World Bank Chief

Rates should be between 0.25 and 1.75 percent rather...

Newly Naturalized Citizens Say What American Freedom Means to Them

Nearly 820,000 people pledged allegiance to the United States and became naturalized citizens in 2024.

Noem Waives Environmental Restrictions to Fast-Track Water Barriers in Rio Grande

DHS Sec Kristi Noem waived federal environmental laws to fast-track construction of 17 miles of waterborne barriers in the Rio Grande in South Texas.

Trump Indicates Legislation for Hiring Illegal Aliens on Farms

Trump to allow illegal immigrants who work on farms to continue working to prevent unnecessary disruptions to farming across the country.

US Keeps Pressure on Chinese Goods Amid Vietnam Trade Deal

Transshippingโ€”rerouting goods through a third country to disguise the origin of the productsโ€”is a focal point of trade negotiations with Asian markets.

White House Report Reveals Top Earners, Staffers Working for No Salary

The Trump admin released its yearly report that shows the salaries for White House staffers, also revealing officials who arenโ€™t accepting salaries at all.

Transportation Secretary Urges Governors to Remove Political Messages From Crosswalks, Intersections

Duffy sent letters to governors, mayor of D.C., and gov of Puerto Rico urging them to remove political messaging from intersections and crosswalks.
spot_img

Related Articles