The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a religious liberty challenge to Colorado's decision to bar Catholic preschools from the state's universal preschool programs, a case that carries implications beyond the Centennial State.
The case, St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, reaches the high court with voters going to the polls in the midterm elections next week. Colorado has defended its exclusion, saying it required Catholic preschools to accept all families, including those who do not share Catholic beliefs, to be part of the state program.
The coalition of Catholic schools argues that asking them to admit families who do not follow Catholic teachings would sacrifice their beliefs, which they say violates their First Amendment rights.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The ruling will decide whether religious organisations can be excluded from a publicly funded preschool program over their admissions policies.
- It could shape how states run universal preschool programs when religious providers participate.
- The case lands days before the midterm elections, putting religious liberty questions before voters and the court at the same time.
Background
This is the latest First Amendment dispute over whether religious groups that receive public money must comply with state anti-discrimination requirements. The Supreme Court has repeatedly been asked to balance religious liberty against state rules in similar funding contexts.
Key Perspectives
Colorado: Defended its decision because the state's universal preschool program required Catholic preschools to accept all families, including those who do not share Catholic beliefs.
The coalition of Catholic schools: Contends that admitting families who do not follow Catholic teachings would sacrifice their beliefs and violate their First Amendment rights.
What to Watch
- Tuesday's oral arguments and the justices' questioning of both sides.
- Whether the eventual ruling is broad, affecting religious exemptions generally, or narrow to Colorado's program.
- How other states with universal preschool or similar programs respond to the decision once it is issued.
Checked
10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Supreme Court will hear the Colorado Catholic preschool religious liberty case.Washington Examiner: “the Supreme Court will hear a major religious liberty case over a Colorado universal preschool program”
- SupportedThe justices will take up St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy over Colorado's universal preschool rules.Washington Examiner: “The high court will hear arguments in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy on Tuesday. The case deals with Colorado’s decision to bar Catholic preschools from the state’s universal preschool programs.”
- SupportedThe Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case on Tuesday.Washington Examiner: “The high court will hear arguments in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy on Tuesday.”
- SupportedThe case challenges Colorado's decision to bar Catholic preschools from its universal preschool programs.Washington Examiner: “The case deals with Colorado’s decision to bar Catholic preschools from the state’s universal preschool programs.”
- SupportedThe case carries implications beyond Colorado.Washington Examiner: “a major religious liberty case over a Colorado universal preschool program with implications beyond the Centennial State.”
- SupportedThe case comes as voters are due to go to the polls in the midterm elections next week.Washington Examiner: “As same-day voters go to the polls for the midterm elections next week, the Supreme Court will hear a major religious liberty case”
- SupportedColorado defended its exclusion on the grounds that Catholic preschools had to accept all families to participate in the state program.Washington Examiner: “Colorado has defended its decision because it required the Catholic preschools to accept all families, including those who do not share Catholic beliefs, to be part of the state program.”
- SupportedColorado's requirement included accepting families who do not share Catholic beliefs.Washington Examiner: “it required the Catholic preschools to accept all families, including those who do not share Catholic beliefs, to be part of the state program.”
- SupportedThe coalition of Catholic schools argues that admitting families who do not follow Catholic teachings would sacrifice its beliefs.Washington Examiner: “The coalition of Catholic schools argues that asking them to admit families who do not follow Catholic teachings would sacrifice their beliefs”
- SupportedThe coalition says the requirement violates its First Amendment rights.Washington Examiner: “something which they say violates their First Amendment rights.”