Supreme Court to Hear Catholic Preschools vs Colorado Discrimination Case
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a case where Catholic preschools want to exclude LGBTQ children from Colorado's state-funded preschool program. Two Denver-area Catholic parishes are challenging a lower court ruling that said they can't discriminate if they take state money.
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear arguments in a major religious liberty case involving Catholic preschools and Colorado's universal preschool program.
Two Denver-area Catholic parishes want to participate in Colorado's state-funded preschool program but refuse to admit children from LGBTQ families. A lower appeals court ruled that schools taking state money cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Catholic preschools, represented by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, argue that Colorado is discriminating against them based on their religious beliefs. They say forcing them to admit all children violates their religious freedom.
Colorado's universal preschool program provides funding to help families access early childhood education. The state requires participating schools to follow nondiscrimination rules that protect LGBTQ families.
This is the latest in a series of Supreme Court cases involving religious rights claims. The court's conservative majority has generally sided with religious organizations in recent years when they clash with anti-discrimination laws.
This case could decide whether religious organizations can ignore anti-discrimination rules when they receive taxpayer funding. The ruling will affect how states can require equal treatment in publicly funded programs across the country.
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments later this term, with a decision expected by summer 2025.
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