Oklahoma AG files lawsuit against board that approved publicly funded religious charter school

Oklahoma's attorney general filed a lawsuit Friday against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board for approving a publicly funded religious charter school.

Oklahoma's attorney general filed a lawsuit Friday against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board for approving a publicly funded religious charter school.

WITH DRUMMOND TODAY AFTER THAT LAWSUIT WAS FILED. WE HAVE NOW CHOSEN TO FUND CATHOLICISM. ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND TELLING KOCO FIVE HE BELIEVES IF SAINT ISIDORE OF SEVILLE IS ALLOWED TO OPERATE, IT COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO PUBLIC FUNDING FOR OTHER RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS IN OKLAHOMA. SO ANY APPLICANT THAT SEEKS SECTARIAN FUNDING, WE ARE REQUIRED TO FUND. SO IF IT’S A SATANIC TEMPLE OR A SHARIA LAW BASED SECT THAT WANTS FUNDING, THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT. BUT HE SAYS HE’S WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD MOVE FUNDING AWAY FROM OKLAHOMA BECAUSE OF CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO REALLOCATE. $1.1 BILLION TO BLUE STATES WE HAVE NOW AS A STATE VIOLATED THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION, THE OKLAHOMA STATUTORY LAW, AND BREACHED OUR CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SAID TODAY THEY STAND WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL DRUMMOND, BUT STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS GAVE US A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART, QUOTE, OKLAHOMA PARENTS KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR KIDS AND DESERVE THE MOST EXPANSIVE SYSTEM OF SCHOOL CHOICE IN THE COUNTRY SO THEY CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THE APPROVAL OF SAINT ISIDORE OF SEVILLE IS A LANDMARK IN THE BATTLE. FOR EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS A PRIVATE SCHOOL CAN BE SELECTIVE WITH WHO THEY ALLOW INTO THEIR SCHOOL. BUT A SCHOOL THAT TAKES PUBLIC MONEY REGARDLESS OF RELIGION, HAS DIFFERENT RULES. RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST NONBELIEVERS. HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT DON’T FIT THEIR PROFILE. AND THAT’S JUST AGAINST THE LAW. WITH THE LAWSUIT FILING TODAY, WE’RE TOLD COURT PROCEEDINGS COULD START IN FEBRUARY OF 2024. OTHERS WILL SAY, OH, DRUMMOND’S AGAINST RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. THAT’S NOT TRUE. I’M I’M GOING TO BE THAT LAST DEFENSE. SO THAT IN YEARS TO COME, YOU

Oklahoma AG files lawsuit against board that approved publicly funded religious charter school

Oklahoma's attorney general filed a lawsuit Friday against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board for approving a publicly funded religious charter school.

Oklahoma's attorney general filed a lawsuit Friday against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board for approving a publicly funded religious charter school. | MORE | Oklahoma, nation's first religious charter school to be challenged in courtAttorney General Gentner Drummond filed the lawsuit with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, saying the state constitution prohibits "sectarian control" of public schools. The litigation also said the school would impinge on religious liberty by violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, according to a news release from the attorney general's office. On June 5, the virtual charter school board voted to approve an application for the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School, which would be the nation's first religious charter school that is publicly funded. The school is sponsored by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. “Today, Oklahomans are being compelled to fund Catholicism," said Drummond in a statement. A news release said Drummond's office warned the board that approving the application would violate the constitution and their oaths of office. "There is no religious freedom in compelling Oklahomans to fund religions that may violate their own deeply held beliefs," Drummond said in a statement. "The framers of the U.S. Constitution and those who drafted Oklahoma’s Constitution clearly understood how best to protect religious freedom: by preventing the State from sponsoring any religion at all."Gov. Kevin Stitt released a statement disagreeing with Drummond's reasoning. “This lawsuit is a political stunt and runs counter to our Oklahoma values and the law. AG Drummond seems to lack any firm grasp on the constitutional principle of religious freedom and masks his disdain for the Catholics’ pursuit by obsessing over non-existent schools that don’t neatly align with his religious preference," said Stitt in a statement. The full lawsuit can be read here. Top Headlines Oklahoma drivers who fail to move over, slow down for stopped vehicles will face increased fines Oklahoma lawmakers divided on if DEI programs should be cut Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office makes arrest in downtown OKC shooting 2 taken to hospital after pursuit ends in crash Fall festival supports programs for adults with disabilities

Oklahoma's attorney general filed a lawsuit Friday against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board for approving a publicly funded religious charter school.

| MORE | Oklahoma, nation's first religious charter school to be challenged in court

Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed the lawsuit with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, saying the state constitution prohibits "sectarian control" of public schools. The litigation also said the school would impinge on religious liberty by violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, according to a news release from the attorney general's office.

On June 5, the virtual charter school board voted to approve an application for the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School, which would be the nation's first religious charter school that is publicly funded. The school is sponsored by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

“Today, Oklahomans are being compelled to fund Catholicism," said Drummond in a statement.

A news release said Drummond's office warned the board that approving the application would violate the constitution and their oaths of office.

"There is no religious freedom in compelling Oklahomans to fund religions that may violate their own deeply held beliefs," Drummond said in a statement. "The framers of the U.S. Constitution and those who drafted Oklahoma’s Constitution clearly understood how best to protect religious freedom: by preventing the State from sponsoring any religion at all."

Gov. Kevin Stitt released a statement disagreeing with Drummond's reasoning.

“This lawsuit is a political stunt and runs counter to our Oklahoma values and the law. AG Drummond seems to lack any firm grasp on the constitutional principle of religious freedom and masks his disdain for the Catholics’ pursuit by obsessing over non-existent schools that don’t neatly align with his religious preference," said Stitt in a statement.

The full lawsuit can be read here.

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Oklahoma AG files lawsuit against board that approved publicly funded religious charter school

Oklahoma's attorney general filed a lawsuit Friday against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board for approving a publicly funded religious charter school.

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