California court says government can issue bond for improvements at religious schools
March 6, 2007
Decisions should be based on "substance of education provided," not just the school's religious character
The California Supreme Court says a government agency may issue tax-exempt government bonds to help religious schools pay for improvements, even if the schools are "pervasively sectarian." The court ruled 4 to 3 that judges who consider the constitutionality of such borrowing should focus on the "substance of the education provided" and not merely on the schools' "religious character." The bonds, however, can be used only to build facilities where secular subjects will be taught in a way that is similar to teaching in nonreligious schools, the court says.
