USCCB Statement on SCOTUS Decision in Blaine Amendment Case

On June 30, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue.  The case challenged a decision by the Montana Supreme Court to invalidate a tax credit scholarship program.  Families benefiting include those who send their children to religiously-affiliated schools, a violation of the Montana state constitution’s “Blaine Amendment” of 1889 against aid to religious schools.

By vote of 5-4, the Court ruled in favor of the petitioners.  

Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee for Religious Liberty, and Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J. of Oakland, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Catholic Education, have issued a statement, which you can read here.