More on Church and State

Last updated on: July 7, 2017 at 4:24 pm by Jane the Actuary

More on Church and State 2017-07-07T16:24:19-06:00 Jane the Actuary

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

from flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andwat/3458528092; creative commons 2.0

Again, from the Detroit News: “Michigan judge extends freeze on private school aid.”

A Michigan judge on Wednesday extended her temporary freeze on state funding for private schools as she continues to consider a request for a longer injunction. . . .

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is among a handful of groups who sued the state in March seeking to block a $2.5 million budget appropriation designed to reimburse private schools for state mandates, including immunization and compliance drills.

“This is a very important decision from the judge, even though it is not a final one, because without an order the state would have been free to start distributing money directly to private schools, which would be unprecedented in Michigan’s constitutional history,” said ACLU attorney Dan Korobkin.

Plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction to block the fiscal year 2017 funding as the case moves forward in court, arguing the appropriation violates the Michigan Constitution, which prohibits most direct or indirect aid for private schools.

Why is this still OK, following the recent Supreme Court ruling? I would guess that’s because the prohibition references “private” schools in general rather than parochial schools specifically. But at the same time, it seems unlikely that the ACLU would be involved if it were truly an issue of private schools per se, especially since, following the 1994 legislation that moved school funding primarily to the state level, and gave state funding to charter schools (without depending on local school districts for approval), I suspect that, with very few exceptions (e.g., Detroit Country Day School, etc.), nonpublic schools are virtually all parochial schools, since they were the only ones unable to partake in the state funding bonanza.

On the other hand, if the Michigan Constitution prohibits this sort of aid, well, then, it seems like the right fix, if there’s consensus among the legislature and the governor, is to simply amend the constitution, which, to be sure, requires a 2/3rds supermajority, but sure seems like a more reasonable approach than just trying to wish it away.

Image: from flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andwat/3458528092; creative commons 2.0

Uncategorized

church and state

Michigan

religious accomodation

Previous Post

July 6, 2017

A Subminimum Wage, Revisited

Next Post

July 8, 2017 Here's a demographic oddity for ya'

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Actuarial/Retirement Issues Politics Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 December 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul say he does not do the good he wants to do, but instead does?

Select your answer to see how you score.

What leads to death What displeases God What is sinful The evil he does not want to do