The religious right is headed toward a revolutionary victory in the Supreme Court

In an oral argument on Wednesday, the Supreme Court seemed poised to split along party lines in a case aiming to enhance religion’s role in American public schools. This was not unexpected, as shortly after Republicans secured a strong majority on the Supreme Court, they began revising the Court’s decisions on religion to favor the religious right. Following Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation, the Court’s approach to religious objectors shifted significantly. The Court’s recent decisions have favored religious conservatives by granting them more leeway to flout laws they disagree with and to request government funding for their religious institutions. The Court’s current majority has drastically altered the country’s approach to religion in legal matters, departing from past interpretations of the Constitution. The latest argument in the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond case indicates the Court’s Republican majority is likely to further blur the lines between church and state. Some justices explicitly acknowledged their intent to reshape the Constitution’s stance on religion, suggesting a shift towards a more intertwined relationship between church and state. Justice Brett Kavanaugh hinted at a new understanding that questions the need for separation of church and state if individuals have the option to opt out of state-endorsed religious activities. The case in focus, Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, questions whether states must use public funds to support religious charter schools. Kavanaugh’s interpretation could mandate significant state funding for religious schools, as long as parents have a choice in their child’s education. This approach marks a departure from previous interpretations of the Constitution, suggesting a new rule for future cases seeking government funding for religious institutions. The Court’s recent rulings have shown a trend towards expanding religious schools’ access to public funding, with the potential to reshape public schools and other institutions in the future.