Justices Leaning Toward Aid for Religious Schools

Can the government pay for computers in parochial schools, or does this mixing of church and state violate the 1st Amendment?

When the Supreme Court took up that question Wednesday, the answer seemed clear in the justices’ comments: Public aid to parochial schools for special items such as computers is likely to be upheld.

Instead, the court appeared focused on the next and harder question coming its way. Can the government subsidize most of a parochial pupil’s education through a voucher plan? That remains in doubt and will not be resolved soon.

Since 1965, federal education aid has been sent to public school districts and they in turn have been required to give an equal share of some of this money to private and parochial schools.

Last year, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans struck down this arrangement as an unconstitutional subsidy for religious education.

Disagreeing with that ruling, a lawyer representing parochial schools in Louisiana said that the equipment-sharing policy ensures fair and equal treatment for all children, regardless of their religion.

A Clinton administration lawyer agreed, saying that computers are not religious materials and can be subsidized for all schoolchildren without violating the separation of church and state.

During the 1970s, the high court struck down several state programs that paid for textbooks in parochial schools.