Playground Case Could Breach Barrier Between Tax Coffers, Religious Schools

[rug]

Children play on a swing set at the Trinity Lutheran Child Learning Center playground in Columbia, Mo.

April 19, 20175:07 AM ET
Heard on Morning Edition
Nina Totenberg

The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments Wednesday in a Missouri case with the potential to open grant programs to parochial schools.

Monday's showdown pitting school choice and religious liberty advocates against taxpayer groups and civil libertarians has been long in coming. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley — Pauley being the director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at the time — in January 2016.

A month later, Justice Antonin Scalia died unexpectedly, leaving an eight-justice court that was deeply divided on questions concerning the separation of church and state. For nearly a year and a half, the justices punted, declining to hear oral arguments in the case until the court was back up to full strength.

Now that day has come — sort of. A funny thing happened on the way to the Supreme Court that's explained in detail below.

http://www.npr.org/2017/04/19/524556011/playground-case-could-breach-barrier-between-tax-coffers-religious-schools

[MichMary]

1. This grant was for playground safety

I'm all for separation of church and state, but this is about children's safety, not about supporting a religion. I think the church should have a pass on this one.

[rug]

2. Religious schools also serve secular purposes.

I don't think this one will need a pass if precedents are followed.

[MichMary]

3. But--

I want to see children kept safe, in whatever surroundings they may find themselves. Especially on a playground. Their health and safety should be paramount.

[rug]

4. I agree and I think, based on today's oral arguments, SCOTUS will too.

I think the law supports them. That's why I wrote they don't need a (free) pass.

[Angry Dragon]

5. They can use their TAX FREE dollars and buy their own tires

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. What other burdens should the state take on in the name of safety for the kids in this religious...

... institution?

If it's all about the kids, should the state have to fund their meals? Don't want the kids to get hypoglycemic.

What about heat and air conditioning? Don't want the kids to catch cold or get heat stroke.

What about the plumbing? Wouldn't want the kids to get Dysentery or lead poisoning.

Is the state responsible for asbestos remediation?

What about fire alarms?

I think churches need to pay their own freight if they want to work outside secular society and not be bound by our rules.