U.S. Bishops laud Supreme Court
ruling on funding for religiously-affiliated schools
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| U.S.Supreme Court in Washington |
U.S Bishops welcome Supreme Court ruling that the "U.S.
Consitution does not permit states to discriminate against religion".
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ
U.S. Bishops hailed a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that
religious schools should not be excluded from a tax credit scholarship program
in Montana.
In a 5 to 4 decision in the case of Espinoza v.
Montana Department of Revenue, the Supreme Court ruled against the
Montana state constitution’s “Blaine Amendment” of 1889 which bars public
funding of religious institutions solely because of their faith-based status.
In light of this, the Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’
Conference Committee for Religious Liberty, Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of
Miami, and the Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Catholic Education, Bishop
Michael C. Barber, S.J. of Oakland, issued a statement on Tuesday.
Welcome ruling
“This is good news, not only for people of faith, but for
our country. A strong civil society needs the full participation of religious
institutions,” the Bishops said welcoming the decision.
“The Court has rightly ruled that the U.S. Constitution does
not permit states to discriminate against religion. This decision means that
religious persons and organizations can, like everyone else, participate in
government programs that are open to all,” they added.
“By ensuring the rights of faith-based organizations’
freedom to serve, the Court is also promoting the common good.”
Blaine Amendments
Archbishop Wenski and Bishop Barber said that the recent
ruling has “dealt a blow to the odious legacy of anti-Catholicism in America.”
They pointed out that the “Blaine Amendments, which are in
37 states’ constitutions, were the product of nativism and bigotry,” and “were
never meant to ensure government neutrality towards religion. They were rather
"expressions of hostility toward the Catholic Church.”
Concluding the statement, the Bishops expressed their
gratitude that “the Supreme Court has taken an important step that will help
bring an end to this shameful legacy.”
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