Pastor’s Corner — July 10th, 2022
SCOTUS Ruling Carson v. Makin: Great News for Catholic Parents
Because of the anticipation of the Dobbs decision, perhaps some Catholics have overlooked another significant U.S. Supreme Court decision, Carson v Makin. Essentially, this decision says that if a state is giving state funds to private schools it is unconstitutional for it to deny religious school the same funding on the ground that it is a religious school. This has huge implications for Catholics parents who know they have a God-given right to raise and educate their children. Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Daly on behalf of the U.S. Bishops had this to say about the decision:
“The Supreme Court has rightly ruled that the Constitution protects not just the right to be religious but also to act religious. This common-sense result reflects the essence of Catholic education. Moreover, the Court has again affirmed that states cannot exclude religious schools from generally-available public benefits based on their religious affiliation or exercise. In our pluralistic society, it is vital that all people of faith be able to participate in publicly available programs and so to contribute to the common good.
It is fitting that this decision concerns a program in Maine, the state that James G. Blaine served as Senator in 1875 when he worked for the passage of the Blaine Amendment – a cynically anti-Catholic measure to amend the U.S. Constitution to ensure that no public aid be provided to ‘sectarian’ schools. While his effort was narrowly defeated, Blaine Amendments were ultimately adopted in some form by 37 states. These laws have nothing to do with government neutrality towards religion. Rather, they are expressions of hostility toward Catholics. We are grateful that the Supreme Court continues to rebuke this harmful legacy.”
This case might lead to the striking down of Michigan’s “Blaine Amendment,” which I’m sure Catholic parents would warmly welcome. Nicole Garnett of the Manhattan Institute says,
“The implications of Carson for education policy are arguably even more significant than for the law. Over the past few decades, school choice has exploded in the U.S. Thirty-one states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia now have at least one private-school-choice program. Faith-based schools are critical to the success of these programs. Throughout our nation’s history, faith-based schools have provided affordable, high-quality educations that have lifted generations of children out of poverty and prepared them for successful, productive, and fulfilling lives. Indeed, the available research suggests that the most disadvantaged children receive the greatest benefit from attending them. Not surprisingly, many parents participating in choice programs choose faith-based schools for their children.
In other words, policies that exclude faith-based schools from private-school-choice programs are not just unconstitutional; they are unwise. Carson v. Makin is a victory not just for religious liberty but for educational pluralism. And the decision comes at a time when we need educational pluralism more than ever.”
New Significant Poll About Abortion after Dobbs
As we’ve seen the past couple of weeks, this issue of abortion has been on the minds of many since Dobbs. A new study was released last week that shows a dramatic (and positive) shift in public opinion about abortion following the Dobbs decision.
According to Catholic Vote:
“A new Harvard/Harris poll released Tuesday found that a large majority (72%) of Americans would support banning abortions after 15 weeks, and almost half (49%) would support bans at 6 weeks.
Thirty-seven percent of registered voters would support banning abortions almost completely, with exceptions for cases of rape and incest. Overall, 90% of Americans would support some restriction on abortion.
According to the same poll, nearly half (45%) of Americans support the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe vs. Wade, while 55% oppose it.
The new data marks a dramatic shift in public opinion from as recently as one month before the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the case of Dobbs vs. Jackson, striking down Roe.”
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Mathias