AG Drummond sues to stop US’ first publicly funded religious school

The Attorney General has announced a lawsuit against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board after they approved the use of public funds for a religious school.

Drummond said the board “violated the religious liberty of every Oklahoman by forcing us to fund the teachings of a specific religious sect with our tax dollars.” 

Andy Fugate replied to the Facebook post announcing the suit. “It is religious tyranny to force another taxpayer to pay for your religious instruction,” he said. 

The first amendment guarantees freedom from religion in addition to freedom of religion. 

Section II-5 of Oklahoma’s constitution states “No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system

of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.”

Though the Office of the Attorney General told board members that voting to use tax dollars for the religious school would violate constitutional rights, it still passed 3-2. 

The Office of the Attorney General stated that “the school’s sponsor, the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, has emphasized that religious indoctrination will play a prominent role.”

“There is no religious freedom in compelling Oklahomans to fund religions,” Drummond said.