Gay Today | Gay News, current events, entertainment, stories and features

'Taxpayers Shouldn't Be Forced to Subsidize a Religion'

Ohio's School Voucher Program Halted by Federal Court

Preliminary Injunction Issued Protecting Public's Dollars

Compiled By GayToday

Cleveland, Ohio�August 25--A federal court Wednesday stopped Ohio's newly reinstated private school voucher program before it starts, by issuing a preliminary injunction against the program and signaling a high likelihood that the Court will find the state's private and religious school voucher program violates the U.S. Constitution.

"This is a victory for everyone who cares about our children and our Constitution," said People For the American Way Foundation President Carole Shields. "Public dollars should be put to work in the public schools where they belong and Ohio's taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize someone else's religion."

In issuing today's ruling, U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr., wrote:

"The Cleveland Program does not make aid available without regard to the nature of the schools to be benefited. The participating schools are overwhelmingly sectarian. This means that parents cannot make an educational choice without regard to whether the school is parochial or not.

"THEREFORE, THE CLEVELAND PROGRAM HAS THE PRIMARY EFFECT OF ADVANCING RELIGION. [emphasis added] Failing to grant the injunction under such circumstances would not only be contrary to law, but could cause an even greater harm to the children by setting them up for greater disruption at a later time."

"The sectarian schools in the voucher program are very clear about their mission - and so is the First Amendment," said Shields

The mission statements of religious schools seeking to receive publicly funded vouchers illustrate how deeply religion permeates their educational programs. For example:

Our Lady of Good Counsel School: "[T]he total Religious Instruction is the major focus of the educational program ... Lessons learned in the formal Religion classes are purposefully carried into all subject areas. Prayer and Worship are important elements of our program."

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:

What Those School Vouchers Could Mean to You

Ohio Citizens Rally Against Vouchers to Save Public Education

Court of Appeals Rules Against School Vouchers

Related Sites:
People for the American Way Foundation

GayToday does not endorse related sites.

West Park Lutheran School: "a child needs to hear and learn theWord of God constantly" ... "[T]his can be done only when the entire curriculum and the life of the school are grounded in the Word of God and dedicated to the purpose of showing the love of the Savior to a world which, without Him, would be lost forever."

Calvary Center Academy: The "primary purpose" of the Academy "is to provide learning opportunities for young people to study in a Christ-centered environment..."

The complaint filed by PFAWF and other public school advocates also emphasized that Ohio's voucher law left religious schools free to use taxpayers' money to pay for materials, facilities, and staff that support or maintain religious education, worship, and other religious activities - a clear violation of the separation of church and state.

PFAWF joined as co-counsel opposing Ohio's voucher program with other pro-public education and pro-constitutional rights organizations including the Ohio Education Association, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.