The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, a pivotal religious liberty dispute challenging Colorado’s universal preschool program. The case centers on whether government officials can exclude faith-based preschools from public education programs simply because they adhere to orthodox Christian beliefs on marriage, family, and human sexuality.
Catholic parishes and the Archdiocese of Denver filed suit after Colorado required participating preschools to sign a sweeping sexual orientation and gender identity mandate. While the state readily granted exceptions and enrollment preferences for various secular criteria, it refused to provide religious accommodations for Christian schools—effectively forcing them to compromise their biblical mission or be barred from serving families in the program.
This case goes to the heart of educational freedom and protecting Christian institutions. As states expand school choice and early-childhood programs, bureaucrats increasingly attempt to attach progressive cultural orthodoxies as strings to public dollars. Under the First Amendment, the government cannot condition equal participation on abandoning biblical truth.
A ruling for St. Mary Catholic Parish will solidify protections for Christian schools, preschools, and parental rights nationwide, ensuring that faith-based education can continue to thrive without government coercion. Believers across America are encouraged to pray for the Justices as they deliberate, and to stand boldly with the schools and churches defending God’s design in the public square.
