Religious Liberty UNDER ATTACK—Supreme Court Acts

(PatriotNews.net) – The Supreme Court steps in to defend Catholic preschools excluded from Colorado’s taxpayer-funded pre-K program over their faith-based admissions policies, exposing a direct threat to religious liberty.

Story Highlights

Supreme Court grants certiorari in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy on April 20, 2026, challenging Colorado’s exclusion of Catholic schools from Universal Preschool Program.
Trump Administration backs the Catholic preschools, calling lower court rulings “deeply problematic.”
Case pits religious freedom against state nondiscrimination rules on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lower courts upheld Colorado’s stance, praising it as a “model,” but Supreme Court will review in fall 2026.
Ruling could reshape public funding for faith-based education nationwide, affirming or limiting religious exemptions.

Case Background and Timeline

Colorado voters approved the Universal Preschool Program in 2020 with 68% support, funding about $6,000 per child for 15 hours of weekly preschool at providers of parents’ choice. Catholic preschools under the Archdiocese of Denver initially sought participation. State rules barred them for refusing admissions based on sexual orientation and gender identity, conflicting with requirements to support Catholic teachings. St. Mary Catholic Parish in Littleton and St. Bernadette Catholic Parish in Lakewood filed suit in August 2023, represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

Lower Courts Uphold Exclusion

Federal district court in January 2024 and the Tenth Circuit in September 2025 unanimously sided with Colorado. Circuit Judge Richard Federico wrote that the state welcomed faith-based preschools but applied uniform nondiscrimination rules to all participants, distinguishing the case from prior Supreme Court precedents on public benefits. The appeals court called Colorado’s approach a model for balancing inclusion with program integrity while accessing public funds.

Oral arguments are set for fall 2026, with a decision expected in 2027. This intervention highlights frustrations across political lines with government overreach, where “universal” programs exclude faith-based options despite taxpayer funding, eroding the individual liberty and limited government principles foundational to America.

Stakeholders and Federal Support

Plaintiffs argue exclusion punishes religious beliefs, as schools serve as church ministry extensions requiring staff and families to align with Catholic doctrine on sexual ethics. The Archdiocese oversees 34 such preschools. Colorado defends equal access for all children, regardless of background. The Trump Administration supports the schools, shifting leverage toward religious autonomy in public programs and countering state-level obstructions amid Republican control of Congress.

Catholic families seek funded access to faith-based education, while broader implications affect other religious organizations in education, healthcare, and social services. Both conservatives wary of woke mandates and liberals frustrated with elite-driven policies see this as government favoring ideology over constitutional rights and equal opportunity.

Broader Constitutional Implications

The case tests whether states can condition public benefits on surrendering religious practices, potentially narrowing the 1990 Employment Division v. Smith ruling on neutral laws. A win for the schools would affirm First Amendment protections, allowing faith groups to maintain integrity without forfeiting taxpayer-supported services. States may redesign “universal” programs to avoid excluding religious providers, impacting national precedents on civil rights versus free exercise.