U.S. Supreme Court to hear Missouri case on state money for religious institutions

[Disir]

JEFFERSON CITY • What could prove to be a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case over whether state money can be used to aid religious institutions began with recycled tires and a children’s playground in Missouri.

A grant program through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources repurposes tires and uses the scrap rubber for playgrounds. Funded through a surcharge on new tires, it diverts rubber that would otherwise be discarded in a landfill and allows recipients to install a bouncier surface beneath children’s playscapes.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, Mo., applied for the grant to resurface its preschool’s playground, but was denied by state officials who pointed to an 1875 constitutional amendment that restricts public money from being used “in aid of any church.”

The church sued and lost on appeal, but the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, Trinity Luthran Church v. Pauley, this year.

The court’s eventual decision could call into question the constitutionality of “Blaine Amendments” in 38 states across the country, which religious organizations have long deemed unfair but proponents say are necessary for the separation of church and state.
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Missouri case on state money for religious institutions

Separation of church and state. It means something. But, it will be blown out of proportion.

 

[JakeStarkey]

The Court will rule on a state constitutional amendment. The Roberts Court seems to uphold decisions wherever possible. However, the RC justices may want to throw the law out. Interesting case.

 

[irosie91]

seems to me that religious institutions that have playgrounds for kids should
be able to OPT INTO the recycle rubber programs for a nominal fee

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Using recycled tires clearly establishes Trinity Lutheran Church as the National religion, in clear violation of the First Amendment....er, or something.

 

[cnm]

Or they could just buy the rubber chips at market rates. Isn't that the way it's supposed to be done?

 

[Moonglow]

JEFFERSON CITY • What could prove to be a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case over whether state money can be used to aid religious institutions began with recycled tires and a children’s playground in Missouri.

A grant program through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources repurposes tires and uses the scrap rubber for playgrounds. Funded through a surcharge on new tires, it diverts rubber that would otherwise be discarded in a landfill and allows recipients to install a bouncier surface beneath children’s playscapes.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, Mo., applied for the grant to resurface its preschool’s playground, but was denied by state officials who pointed to an 1875 constitutional amendment that restricts public money from being used “in aid of any church.”

The church sued and lost on appeal, but the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, Trinity Luthran Church v. Pauley, this year.

The court’s eventual decision could call into question the constitutionality of “Blaine Amendments” in 38 states across the country, which religious organizations have long deemed unfair but proponents say are necessary for the separation of church and state.
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Missouri case on state money for religious institutions

Separation of church and state. It means something. But, it will be blown out of proportion.

Being a resident of Mizzouri I don't want tax monies supporting 501c organizations...

 

[Moonglow]

The money that the church used on attorney fees could have been used to support the organization for the betterment of the playground...