Supreme Court Hands Victory To Catholic Schools

(BP)--In a major victory for supporters of school choice, the U.S. Supreme Court April 4 let stand an Arizona law that gives tax credits for contributions to private organizations that fund religious school scholarships.

The justices, in a 5-4 ruling where the conservative bloc formed the majority, said Arizona taxpayers who filed suit against the law did not have standing to bring the case. The five justices in the majority also made clear they believe tax credits are not the same as a direct government expenditure....

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THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: A friend just sent me this article. I can't believe I missed it. It looks like the Supreme Court has just barely handed a major victory to Catholic schools around the nation. While it is disconcerting that four of our Supreme Court justices seem to think private money, in private bank accounts, spent on private schools actually belongs to the state, it is marginally comforting to know that five Supreme Court justices disagree with that notion. Regardless of the hairline victory, it is a victory nonetheless, and that means it is now the law of the land. Parents who send their children to Catholic Schools CAN NOW receive a tax deduction for doing so -- that is IF the legal provisions are set up for it.

Obviously, this will require some legal maneuvering on behalf of Catholic schools to set up the tax free tuition exchanges and perhaps a little lobbying of the federal and state governments as well, but to leave this up to the school boards and district superintendents alone would be a task too great for them.

Therefore, The Catholic Knight would like to ask all of his readers to seize this opportunity now before it's too late. I would like to encourage you to write your state and federal representatives, encouraging them to sponsor and/or support legislation that will immediately recognize the tax exempt status of private schools, particularly because sending children to private schools saves money for public schools, reduces class size, and creates a better teaching environment for public school teachers. Yes, I know the teachers unions are going to hate this, because everyone knows they represent themselves and not public school children, but these teachers unions just got handed a boot-to-the-head by the U.S. Supreme Court.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has plainly stated that parental choice in the education of their children is a basic CIVIL RIGHT, and that it is a violation of this civil right when governments act to discourage parental choice in education by failing to provide tax credits/deductions or vouchers. In other words, it is our Catholic duty to make sure that all parents have a choice in where and how to educate their children.

So this is our opportunity to seize the moment in the United States. If we fail to act now, the teachers unions will find a way to circumvent this ruling. SO DO SOMETHING! And hurry before it's too late. Below you will find a link that will help you locate the contact information for your state and federal representatives. Write them today, and request they sponsor and/or support legislation creating tax exemptions for tuition paid to private and religious schools. Use the recent Supreme Court ruling to make your case, and PLEASE share this blog entry with others.

The link you need to contact both your state and federal representatives can be found HERE: http://www.congress.org/stickers/?dir=congressorg&officials=officials&lvl=L

Now please share this blog entry with others.