Supreme Court Rules Against Religious Exclusion From Maine's Tuition Assistance Program

Supreme Court Rules Against , Religious Exclusion From Maine's , Tuition Assistance Program.

On June 21, the Supreme Court ruled that religious schools in Maine cannot be excluded from the state's tuition assistance program.

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CNN reports that the state program allows parents in Maine to use vouchers to enroll their children in public or private schools.

Maine’s ‘nonsectarian’ requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN.

Maine’s ‘nonsectarian’ requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN.

Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN.

Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN.

According to CNN, the ruling by the conservative court expands religious liberty rights and brings religion into public life.

Critics say the decision amounts to an erosion of the , separation of church and state.

Justice Stephen Breyer, who voted against the measure, wrote that the court had , “never previously held what the Court holds today, namely, that a State must (not may) use state funds to pay for religious education as part of a tuition program designed to ensure the provision of free statewide public school education.”.

Justice Stephen Breyer, who voted against the measure, wrote that the court had , “never previously held what the Court holds today, namely, that a State must (not may) use state funds to pay for religious education as part of a tuition program designed to ensure the provision of free statewide public school education.”.

In response, Justice John Roberts emphasized that , "the state pays for tuition for certain students at private schools – so long as they are not religious.”.

That is discrimination against religion, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN.

Justice Sotomayer, who also voted against the majority, accused the conservative court of dismantling , “the wall of separation between church and state that the Framers fought to build.”