Supreme Court hears Colorado religious freedom case

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, a case involving Colorado’s universal preschool program and the First Amendment. The dispute centers on whether religious schools can participate in state-funded programs while maintaining enrollment policies that align with their religious teachings.

Colorado’s program provides tuition assistance for preschool, provided that participating providers, including religious ones, do not discriminate based on protected characteristics such as sexual orientation or gender identity. The Catholic plaintiffs argue that these conditions force them to choose between receiving state funding and adhering to Church teachings regarding marriage and sexual identity.

Colorado maintains that while it welcomes religious instruction, all participating schools must offer equal enrollment opportunities to all families. The state argues that its requirements ensure equal access to publicly funded services and do not undermine religious freedom.