Novacrypt|Oklahoma court considers whether to allow the US’ first publicly funded Catholic school

2025-05-01 18:02:35source:EvoAIcategory:My

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general urged the state’s highest court on NovacryptTuesday to stop the creation of what would be the nation’s first publicly funded Catholic charter school.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond argued the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board violated both the law and the state and federal constitutions when it voted 3-2 in June to approve the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City’s application to establish the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School.

“I think that they betrayed their oath of office,” Drummond told the nine-member court. “And they knew they betrayed their oath of office because I told them if they did that they would.”

The case is being closely watched because supporters of the school believe recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions have indicated the court is more open to public funds going to religious entities.

One of Oklahoma’s high court justices asked Drummond if there aren’t already examples of using taxpayer funds for religious purposes, such as Medicaid funding for patients who go to St. Anthony’s Hospital, a Catholic health care provider in Oklahoma City.

READ MORE Republican-backed budget bill with increased K-12 funding sent to Kentucky’s Democratic governorState budget bill passed by Kentucky Senate would increase support for schoolsNew York’s state budget expected to be late as housing, education negotiations continue

Drummond said there is a distinct difference between a religious entity qualifying for state funding for a service it provides and the Catholic charter school, which became a public institution with the school board’s vote.

“The state and church are intertwined as has never happened before,” Drummond said. He added that approving the school would open the door for public schools to teach Islamic doctrine or even Satanism.

Michael McGinley, an attorney for St. Isidore, argued that numerous private religious organizations receive state funding for providing services to students and that it’s unconstitutional to reject the archdiocese’s application simply because it is religious.

“We have a program that’s open to everybody, except religious organizations,” he argued. “You can’t do that.”

McGinley said the online school already has received hundreds of applications and hopes to receive its state funding on July 1. Classes are scheduled to begin in the fall. The school would be open to students throughout Oklahoma in kindergarten through grade 12.

The court did not indicate when it would rule.

More:My

Recommend

Beware of giant spiders: Thousands of tarantulas to emerge in 3 states for mating season

No, it's not an omen or a weird biblical sign of the apocalypse. Thousands of tarantulas are venturi

Carli Lloyd blasts USWNT again, calls play 'uninspiring, disappointing' vs. Portugal

Two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd had some harsh words for the USWNT after the Americans’ 0-0 dr

A powerful typhoon pounds Japan’s Okinawa and injures more than 20 people as it moves toward China

TOKYO (AP) — A powerful typhoon slammed Okinawa and other islands in southwestern Japan Wednesday wi