To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Judge Rules Colorado Can't Block Funding for Preschools with Biblical Beliefs"Families should be free to choose to send their kids to a Catholic preschool without forfeiting a public benefit—especially one the government has described as 'universal.'" -Becket Law
Becket Law, a non-profit legal group, filed a federal lawsuit against Colorado last August on behalf of two Catholic preschools to protect the ability of families who send their children to Catholic schools to participate in the state's universal preschool program (UPK). Denver's Department of Early Childhood provides funding for 15 hours per week of free preschool to the more than 40,000 families attending private, public, and faith-based preschools in Colorado. However, it denied that benefit to families who sent their children to St. Mary Catholic Parish and St. Bernadette's Catholic preschools because the preschools asked staff and families to share their religious beliefs. The staff at both schools are required to sign annual contracts that affirm their willingness to uphold Catholic teaching on issues including life, marriage, and sexuality. In addition, families agree that they understand the Catholic church's stance on such matters. St. Mary Catholic Parish and St. Bernadette's Catholic preschools serve low-income families. Nearly 85% of families who attend St. Bernadette Parish preschool are eligible for free or reduced lunch and 25% of St. Mary's preschoolers receive tuition discounts or scholarships, according to the Archdiocese of Denver. In a 101-page opinion, the court explained that Colorado's effort to exclude the schools because they required families to share their beliefs "created an unworkable scheme that breaches the appropriate limits on state power" and they did not provide enough "compelling interest" for excluding the schools. "The department has allowed faith-based providers to deny children and families equal opportunity based on their religious affiliation, or lack thereof," wrote Colorado district judge John Kane, "and has cited no compelling interest for permitting that discrimination while denying plaintiffs' request for a related exemption." Archdiocese of Denver Catholic preschools will now be allowed to participate in the UPK program. "Families should be free to choose to send their kids to a Catholic preschool without forfeiting a public benefit—especially one the government has described as 'universal,'" said Becket Law in a press release. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here Talia Wise has served as a multi-media producer for CBNNews.com, CBN Newswatch, The Prayer Link, and CBN News social media outlets.
To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News A Growing Global Movement of Parents Is Keeping Their Kids Free from Smartphones Democrat Downplays That Bill Would Cost Trump His Secret Service Detail Teacher's Union Accused of Laundering $1.5 Million to Bankroll Dem Governor Josh Shapiro's Campaign Dan Bongino: 9 Reasons to Vote for Kamala Harris New Comms Director for Kamala Harris Campaign Wants to Pack the Supreme Court and Defund the Police Pro-Life Protester Sentenced to More Than 3 Years Behind Bars for Blocking Abortion Clinic These Important Election Integrity Initiatives Might Be on Your 2024 Ballot Harris Campaign Admits to Misleading Voters on Trump, Project 2025 Pro-Harris Media Scrambles to Erase 'Border Czar' from Her Resume as GOP Highlights Her Record Netanyahu Hails Israeli-US Bond, Reminds Protesters Israel the 'Land of the Bible' for 4,000 Years Pray: Elderly Trump Supporter Run Over in Front Yard Elon Musk Says AI Must Be 'Pro-Human,' Is Alarmed by Technological Developments The Man and the Motive: Behind Musk's War on the 'Woke Mind Virus,' and Why He Fights for Children Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Promises Bill Protecting Rights to Refuse Vaccines Is Coming Search the Articles Archives |
All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.
Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.
Home | Store | Subscribe | Facebook | Article Archive |