Posted on 01/17/2020 11:34:40 AM PST by cann
The U.S. Supreme Court in January is slated to hear a case that could have significant implications for the separation of church and state. The crux of the case facing the justices in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue is whether or not a state can be compelled to use taxpayer funds to subsidize religious education.
The case centers on the state’s 2015 Montana Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which aimed to give residents “choice in education” by providing a tax-credit of up to $150 for contributions that fund privately-run scholarship programs.
The initial lawsuit was filed by three mothers who had been utilizing the program to assist in paying for their children’s tuition at the Stillwater Christian School after Revenue Department declared the private school was ineligible for the program, citing to an amendment in the Montana constitution’s “no-aid provision,” forbidding from providing “direct or indirect aid” to any “church, sect, or denomination.”
In light of the no aid amendment, the Montana Supreme Court last year struck down the tax-credit program in its entirety, ruling that was incompatible with the law.
(Excerpt) Read more at lawandcrime.com ...
???? So the $150 is for ANY private school, and they think one shouldn’t be able to use it for a faith based school? Garbage.
Yes, the case is ridiculous and shows the absolute hate the plaintiffs have for Christians. The whole idea of the credit is so parents can have a CHOICE. God forbid their choice is a Christian school. What about just staying home and using the credit for home school materials?
Exactly, it would go beyond separation to down right persecution of one religion.
FWIW, that is how it works here in British Columbia right now in Canada. The teacher unions hate it, but for now we get 50% of the annual cost back to private institutions. Don’t know the exact amounts but let’s say the province hands over $5000 per child. The private school generally would charge $5000 for tuition from the parents, getting an equal amount from the province. Of course the private school can be elite and charge $20,000 to the parents but it still will only get $5000 from the province.
It works well, but opponents claim it only benefits the rich, which is total BS. 80% of those in our school are middle class.
Perhaps the biggest beneficiaries of a voucher system like that in America are the people of color trapped in inner city failed schools.
The time is young yet.................
Our school exists next to a large native reserve. A fair percentage of the school kids are natives, the reserve paying for them to go to the private school rather than the violent and rough public school in the small town.
True. Even by not praying, the message that is conveyed is atheism, that the gov. and country needs no help from a creator or owes any gratitude to the same. Instead, historically, the government affirmed general faith in one God, and its principals and precepts reflected that of Christian belief, which includes separation of powers.
But if the state os going to forbid, indirect aid” to any “church, sect, or denomination” then it will have stop all aid, since that is impossible in the broad sense of ideology.
And requirement, such as forbids not hiring liberal and prohomosexual teachers due to that aspect.
“...citing to an amendment in the Montana constitution’s “no-aid provision,” forbidding from providing “direct or indirect aid” to any “church, sect, or denomination.””
Umm - pay the student families directly like they do with food stamps...good enough for the poor/lazy/degenerate should be good enough for those aspiring to better themselves...
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