The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board Monday voted 3-2 to approve the charter application for an online school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. St. Isidore will be overseen by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.

The school will begin holding classes in the fall of 2024, the Washington Post reported this week.

In a statement, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt praised the board's courage to approve the authorization of the school, knowing that the decision would receive a great deal of backlash.

"This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their child's education," Stitt says.

"Oklahomans support religious liberty for all and support an increasingly innovative educational system that expands choice. Today, with the nation watching, our state showed that we will not stand for religious discrimination."

Americans United for Separation of Church and State said their group intends to file litigation against Oklahoma and actually called the decision a clear violation of religious freedom for Oklahoma taxpayers.

"Americans United will work with our Oklahoma and national partners to take all possible legal action to fight this decision and defend the separation of church and state that's promised in both the Oklahoma and US Constitutions," CEO Rachel Laser said.

"State and federal law are clear: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and open to all students. No public-school family should fear that their child will be required by charter schools to take theology classes or be expelled for failing to conform to religious doctrines."

The Virtual Charter School Board had initially rejected St. Isidore's application in April, citing multiple points of concern with the charter school request, among them questions of constitutionality. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Supreme Court Rules for Pro-Life Centers: 'The Government Has No Business Harassing Pro-Life Ministries'

President Trump Signs Executive Order Expanding High-Quality Retirement Accounts for Millions of Americans (VIDEO)

Worldwide Implications of the UAE's OPEC Exit

Democrat Activist Texas Judge Rules State Agency Must Greenlight 400-Acre Islamic City Near Dallas

New Footage of Trump Assassination Attempt Released. Here's What It Shows [Video]

MAHA Victory on Capitol Hill as GOP Agrees to Drop Special Pesticide Protections

DOJ Report Reveals Biden Admin's Expansive Religious Liberty Violations and Hostility to American Christians

SPLC's Indictment Prompts Loss of Donations from Vanguard, Fidelity Charitable Programs

President Trump Signs Bill to Fund DHS, Ending the Democrat Shutdown

Evidence Young People Are Turning to Christianity Isn’t Anecdotal; It’s Real

100 Missionaries Deploy to 10/40 Window amid Increasing Reports of Visions of 'The Man in White'

WATCH: Millionaire Tax Critic Says AGO, Dems Played Politics Instead of Protecting Residents

Total Victory: Florida Congressional Maps Are Now Official

Trump, Hegseth Praise US Performance in Iran as Congress Pushes Back; Israel Appalled at London Attack on Jews

Ex-Muslim Flees Iran, Says Jesus Appeared in Dreams to Family Members

May Day Protests are Coming. Urgent Prayers Needed!

Anthony Fauci's Former Senior Adviser Indicted for Role in COVID Cover-up

King Charles III Gifts President a Bell from Hms Trump at White House State Dinner Reinforcing US-UK Bonds

Feds Raid More Than 20 Sites in Minneapolis Fraud Probe

This is a Spiritual Battle over America; Take Your Place Praising God, Our Worship is Warfare!