Opinion: Supreme Court decision on vouchers for religious schools reinforces faith in the public square

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

53% : As the majority opinion in the 6-3 ruling said, quoting an earlier court ruling in a different case, "The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment protects against 'indirect coercion or penalties on the free exercise of religion, not just outright prohibitions.'""In particular," the ruling further stated, "we have repeatedly held that a state violates the Free Exercise Clause when it excludes religious observers from otherwise available public benefits."
53% : Because traditional public schools are scarce in parts of the state, the law allows tuition assistance to help people send their children to private schools near them.
52% : But Maine's attorney general at the time decided this violated the First Amendment -- a decision subsequently written into law by Maine's Legislature.
48% : When Catholics confronted Protestant practices that were woven throughout public schools, they eventually began forming their own religious schools.
41% : The First Amendment courts the tensions that are natural in a diverse nation.

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