Public funds redirected to a church-run school; potential for religious indoctrination concerns.
Taking a Courageous Stand: Unraveling the Church-State Dilemma
Let's dive into today's discuss: Matthew 27:24 - a notable passage that serves as an allegory for the modern-day power play between religion and politics.
Pontius Pilate, though cognizant of Jesus' innocence, turned a blind eye as he went along with the crowd's clamor to condemn an innocent man to ensure favor with Caesar and preserve his position. This ancient incident sets a chilling precedent for political expediency, a theme that has persisted through the ages.
Fast forward to today's United States, where we find ourselves embroiled in a constitutional quandary, not unlike the one faced by Pilate. This brings us to St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School—a proposed online faith-based charter school seeking public funding, a decision scheduled for this year by the U.S. Supreme Court. Last year, the state's Supreme Court rejected the contract St. Isidore had with Oklahoma. Yet, Governor Kevin Stitt raised concerns, stating, "I'm concerned we've sent a troubling message that religious groups are second-class participants in our education system."
Now let's delve into something that truly troubles me: the 2019 audits by the Catholic Church in Oklahoma, which uncovered abuse allegations against 22 clerics, substantiated by the investigations. Alleged predators, responsible for the care of children, were systemically transferred by superiors from state to state from 1960 until 2018.
In the aftermath, Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley issued a public letter, stating, "I'm sorry for the complicity and negligence of those who failed to respond adequately to reports of abuse, for whatever reason, whether they are bishops, priests, deacons, religious or lay persons representing the Church."
Though Catholic leaders in Oklahoma were lauded for acknowledging past failings, this did not shield them from facing millions in lawsuits—not just for these accusations, but for countless others as well. In fact, in 2022, 10 current and former students filed a $75-million lawsuit against Mount St. Mary Catholic High School in Oklahoma City, alleging that the school fostered "a rape culture," and failed to take reasonable steps to report or stop the rampant sexual abuse. A federal judge dismissed the case in 2023, citing that the statute of limitations had expired, not ruling on the merits of the allegations.
These headlines emerge from one state, reflecting a larger, ongoing ordeal. Over the past 20 years, the Catholic Church has paid over $5 billion to settle sex abuse cases, as tracked by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and certain U.S. religious communities.
Ponder upon these findings; the Church is certainly not short on funds. It leaves me baffled to consider why on Earth public money would be required to fund Catholic schools.
That said, I'm not opposed to faith-based education, for my child attended a private Christian school. However, I vociferously oppose any attempt to erode the wall between church and state. Take Pontius Pilate's fateful decision as a warning of what happens when secular power attempts to control religious life.
The annals of history provide ample evidence to dissuade us from this union of church and state. There is no need for a test case in Oklahoma to drive home the point.
In 1534, when England's Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, King Henry VIII became the supreme head of the Church of England, severing ties with the papacy. The pope's rule had become inconvenient for Henry, who desired to divorce his first wife. King Henry pressured English church officials, who knew better, into making him the religious leader as well as the monarch. And when Henry's second wife failed to produce a male heir, he had her executed so he could marry a third woman. He faced no consequences. Why? Political expediency. Parliament washed its hands of the controversy, disguising their complicity by allowing themselves to believe that the king was above the law and above the church. History shows that the attempt to sidestep accountability was futile.
The founding fathers of the United States aimed to leave behind this entanglement, embracing the First Amendment to keep the government from interfering with religious life and vice versa.
For taxpayers to fund a religious school would be a step back towards tyranny.
This week, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller expressed his desire for the nation's children to "be taught to love America." I wholeheartedly concur. And that starts with shielding America from becoming a theocracy.
@LZGranderson
Additional Reads
- Voices ### Commentary: Tax dollars for religious schools? Conservative justices could be the roadblock
- Voices ### Insight: Why this Puritan sculpture may revolutionize your thinking about the rise of Christian nationalism
Supreme Court to Decide on Funding for Religious Schools as Public Charters
Background Data
Financial Settlements for Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Cases
Over the years, the Catholic Church has faced a series of sexual abuse scandals, leading to significant financial settlements. Key examples include:
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles: $660 million settlement with over 500 victims in 2007 (representing one of the largest settlements in U.S. history for clergy abuse cases)[3]
- Diocese of Buffalo: $150 million settlement in 2023 (second-largest contribution by a bankrupt Catholic institution in any Catholic bankruptcy case)[5]
- Diocese of Rockville Centre: $323 million settlement in 2023 (the largest diocesan-level bankruptcy settlement in U.S. history)[5]
- New York Catholic Church Settlements: $27.5 million settlement with four boys who were assaulted by a teacher at a church-affiliated institution[1]
These settlements underscore the financial burden and legal consequences the Church has endured due to sexual abuse allegations.
Impact on Proposed Faith-Based Charter Schools Funding
While these settlements do not have direct connections to funding for faith-based charter schools, there are broader implications that could sway public opinion and support for religious institutions, including their involvement in education:
- Public Perception: Ongoing sexual abuse scandals could erode trust in religious institutions, potentially impacting support for faith-based initiatives like schools.
- Financial Stability: Large settlements put a strain on the financial resources of religious organizations, which may limit their ability to support schools.
- Regulatory and Legal Changes: The scandals may trigger increased scrutiny and regulatory changes affecting how faith-based schools operate and receive funding.
However, it's important to remember that specific funding decisions for faith-based charter schools are generally determined by local educational policies, state laws, and public opinion rather than directly by the financial settlements related to abuse claims.
- The government's decision to consider funding a proposed online faith-based charter school in California, such as St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, raises concerns about the entanglement of church and state, as witnessed in the past.
- Taking the case of Pontius Pilate and his handling of Jesus' trial as a cautionary tale, I am apprehensive about the potential consequences of secular power exerting control over religious life.
- The governance of religious education can be an asset, as my child graduated from a private Christian school, but I am strongly opposed to the erosion of the separation between church and state.
- The recent financial settlements for Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in California, notably the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Diocese of Buffalo, and Diocese of Rockville Centre, serve as stark reminders of the Church's past failings.
- These settlements not only have significant financial implications but also could potentially impact public support for faith-based institutions, including schools, due to eroded trust.
- As the case of faith-based charter schools evolves in Los Angeles and other regions, history must guide our decisions to protect the constitutional principle that separates religious and secular power.
- The founders of the United States wisely established the First Amendment to maintain this separation, aiming to avoid the errors of the past and create a constitutional structure that promotes fairness and justice.
- In light of the ongoing sexual abuse scandals and the enormous financial burdens they impose, it seems unreasonable to consider public funding for faith-based schools.
- In today's political climate, where religious nationalism is on the rise, it is essential to advocate for the preservation of constitutional safeguards to shield our society from becoming a theocracy, as America's founders intended.
