Supreme Court hears Catholic challenge to Colorado preschool funding rules

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in a religious rights case challenging Colorado state rules for its universal preschool program, UPI reported. The legal challenge, titled St. Mary Catholic Parish versus Roy, was brought by Catholic schools in the state, according to UPI. NBC News, msnbc.com, Fox Business, The New York Times, Reuters, and MS NOW also reported that the court heard the arguments. [1][2][3][4][8][9][10]

Catholic schools filed the challenge after being excluded from state funding because they refused to enroll students whose families do not adhere to their religious beliefs on sexual orientation and gender identity, UPI reported. According to msnbc.com, Catholic schools argued that Colorado violated their rights by requiring them to comply with nondiscrimination rules to participate in the program. [1][3]

Colorado passed its universal preschool program through a ballot measure in 2020, UPI reported. The program provides state funding to make preschool free to all four-year-old children in the state, according to UPI. [1]

The Supreme Court of the United States has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over state court cases that turn on federal constitutional law. According to msnbc.com, the court has backed religious exercise claims in a series of recent cases. [3][12]