CV NEWS FEED // The first-ever Catholic charter school this week presented its defense of its state-financed position before the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Created by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School is set to open in July with approximately 200 students enrolled.
According to The Nebraska Examiner, the education is rooted in the Catholic tradition, and students would be required to attend Mass.
The Statewide Virtual Charter School board approved the school 3-2 in June of 2023, and signed a contract with the school in October.
OK Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a petition in October to the state Supreme Court asking that the board retract its contract with the school, arguing that the school violated “separation of church and state.”
Oral arguments for the issue took place on April 2, where non-profit legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom represented the board and the school in the case.
According to local news outlet NonDoc, ADF senior counsel Phil Sechler cited the First Amendment in defending the taxpayer-funded Catholic charter school.
“The free exercise clause (of the First Amendment) otherwise prohibits the state from using religion as a basis to exclude a group from its public benefit programs,” Sechler said. He added that St. Isidore of Seville would admit students regardless of if they were Catholic or not.
Vice Chief Justice Dustin Rowe said during the oral arguments, “We’re here today because the Catholic Church wants to operate a school and be publicly funded.”
Sechler replied, “We’re here because the Catholic Church wants to participate in a program.”
AG Drummond said that the SVCS board members who voted in favor “betrayed their oath of office.” According to The Examiner, Drummond also said that if the Court decides against him, he would appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
