The_AT0 Supreme_AJ0 Court_NN1 is_VBZ set_VVN to_TO0 hear_VVI oral_AJ0 argument_NN1 Wednesday_NP0 in_PRP Carson_NP0 v._PRP Makin_NP0 ,_PUN an_AT0 important_AJ0 religious-freedom_NN1 case_NN1 involving_VVG Maine’s_NP0 tuition-assistance_NN1 program_NN1 for_PRP rural_AJ0 students_NN2 ._SENT At_PRP the_AT0 moment_NN1 ,_PUN it_PNP discriminates_VVZ against_PRP Catholic_AJ0 and_CJC other_AJ0 Christian_AJ0 parents_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 court_NN1 —_PUN much_AV0 to_PRP the_AT0 indignation_NN1 of_PRF progressive_AJ0 lobbyists_NN2 —_PUN may_VM0 put_VVI an_AT0 end_NN1 to_PRP that_DT0 ._SENT 
Some_DT0 background_NN1 is_VBZ in_PRP order_NN1 ._SENT Many_DT0 rural_AJ0 towns_NN2 in_PRP Maine_NP0 don’t_NP0 have_VHB their_DPS own_DT0 school_NN1 system_NN1 ;_PUN more_AV0 than_CJS half_DT0 lack_NN1 a_AT0 secondary_AJ0 school_NN1 ._SENT In_PRP areas_NN2 without_PRP access_NN1 to_PRP public_AJ0 schools_NN2 ,_PUN Maine_NP0 allows_VVZ students_NN2 to_TO0 attend_VVI other_AJ0 public_AJ0 or_CJC private_AJ0 schools_NN2 at_PRP public_AJ0 expense_NN1 ._SENT There_EX0 is_VBZ a_AT0 catch_NN1 ,_PUN however_AV0 ._SENT Parents_NN2 can_VM0 only_AV0 choose_VVI “_NP0 a_AT0 nonsectarian_AJ0 school_NN1 in_PRP accordance_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 First_ORD Amendment_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 United_NP0 States_NP0 Constitution_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
Maine_NP0 applies_VVZ the_AT0 insulting_AJ0 “_NN1 sectarian_AJ0 ”_NN1 label_NN1 to_PRP any_DT0 school_NN1 that_CJT “_NP0 promotes_VVZ the_AT0 faith_NN1 or_CJC belief_NN1 system_NN1 with_PRP which_DTQ it_PNP is_VBZ associated_VVN and_CJC /_PUN or_CJC presents_VVZ the_AT0 material_NN1 taught_VVN through_PRP the_AT0 lens_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 faith_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 So_AV0 any_DT0 “_AJ0 religious_AJ0 ”_NN1 school_NN1 benefiting_VVG from_PRP its_DPS program_NN1 must_VM0 be_VBI religious_AJ0 in_PRP name_NN1 only_AV0 ._SENT Some_DT0 schools_NN2 with_PRP a_AT0 religious_AJ0 founding_NN1 are_VBB allowed_VVN to_TO0 participate_VVI because_CJS the_AT0 state_NN1 concluded_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 school_NN1 curricula_NN2 does_VDZ not_XX0 include_VVI any_DT0 religious_AJ0 teaching_NN1 ._SENT 
According_VVG to_PRP the_AT0 Supreme_AJ0 Court_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 First_ORD Amendment_NN1 guards_NN2 against_PRP “_AJ0 excessive_AJ0 government_NN1 entanglement_NN1 with_PRP religion_NN1 ._SENT ”_VVB I_PNP can’t_NN1 imagine_VVB a_AT0 more_AV0 entangled_AJ0 process_NN1 than_CJS one_PNI involving_VVG government_NN1 officials_NN2 combing_VVG through_PRP the_AT0 teaching_NN1 materials_NN2 of_PRF religious_AJ0 schools_NN2 ._SENT 
Three_CRD Maine_NP0 families_NN2 in_PRP areas_NN2 with_PRP no_AT0 public_AJ0 secondary_AJ0 school_NN1 would_VM0 like_VVI to_TO0 send_VVI their_DPS children_NN2 to_PRP private_AJ0 ,_PUN nonprofit_AJ0 Christian_AJ0 schools_NN2 ._SENT They_PNP have_VHB filed_VVN suit_NN1 ,_PUN claiming_VVG that_CJT Maine’s_NP0 “_NP0 nonsectarian_AJ0 ”_NN1 requirement_NN1 violates_VVZ their_DPS First_ORD Amendment_NN1 right_AV0 to_PRP the_AT0 free_AJ0 exercise_NN1 of_PRF religion_NN1 ._SENT 
The_AT0 Supreme_AJ0 Court_NN1 has_VHZ dealt_VVN several_DT0 blows_NN2 recently_AV0 to_TO0 state_VVI laws_NN2 barring_PRP “_AJ0 sectarian_AJ0 ”_NN1 entities_NN2 from_PRP participating_VVG in_PRP state_NN1 programs_NN2 or_CJC receiving_VVG state_NN1 funds_NN2 ._SENT These_DT0 “_NN1 No-Aid_NP0 provision_NN1 ”_NN1 bans_NN2 have_VHB a_AT0 long_AJ0 and_CJC dark_AJ0 history_NN1 ._SENT They_PNP were_VBD enacted_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 late_AJ0 19th_ORD century_NN1 and_CJC called_VVD “_NP0 Blaine_NP0 Amendments_NN2 ”_NN1 after_PRP Maine_NP0 congressman_NN1 James_NP0 Blaine_NP0 ,_PUN who_PNQ had_VHD tried_VVN and_CJC failed_VVN to_TO0 incorporate_VVI such_DT0 bans_NN2 into_PRP the_AT0 U.S._NP0 Constitution_NN1 ._SENT “_NP0 Sectarian_AJ0 ”_NN1 in_PRP this_DT0 context_NN1 was_VBD too_AV0 often_AV0 code_VVB for_PRP “_NN1 Catholic_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
Judge_NP0 Kyle_NP0 Duncan_NP0 ,_PUN now_AV0 on_PRP the_AT0 Court_NN1 of_PRF Appeals_NN2 for_PRP the_AT0 5th_ORD Circuit_NN1 ,_PUN observed_VVD that_CJT ,_PUN “_NP0 by_PRP 1890_CRD ,_PUN twenty-nine_CRD states_NN2 in_PRP all_DT0 had_VHD incorporated_VVN into_PRP their_DPS constitutions_NN2 explicit_AJ0 prohibitions_NN2 against_PRP the_AT0 allocation_NN1 of_PRF public_AJ0 funds_NN2 to_PRP sectarian_AJ0 schools_NN2 and_CJC other_AJ0 institutions_NN2 ._SENT ”_NP0 Interestingly_AV0 ,_PUN Maine_NP0 did_VDD not_XX0 adopt_VVI a_AT0 “_NP0 Blaine_NP0 Amendment_NN1 ”_NN1 to_PRP its_DPS own_DT0 state_NN1 constitution_NN1 ._SENT Its_DPS “_AJ0 sectarian_AJ0 rule_NN1 ”_NN1 was_VBD enacted_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 Maine_NP0 Legislature_NN1 in_PRP 1980._CRD Instead_AV0 of_PRF taking_VVG an_AT0 overtly_AV0 anti-Catholic_AJ0 stance_NN1 ,_PUN Maine_NP0 has_VHZ chosen_VVN to_TO0 discriminate_VVI equally_AV0 against_PRP all_DT0 religious_AJ0 schools_NN2 ._SENT Small_AJ0 consolation_NN1 ._SENT 
Just_AV0 five_CRD terms_NN2 ago_AV0 ,_PUN in_PRP Trinity_NP0 Lutheran_AJ0 Church_NN1 of_PRF Columbia_NP0 ,_PUN Inc._AJ0 v._PRP Comer_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 Supreme_AJ0 Court_NN1 reviewed_VVD a_AT0 case_NN1 where_AVQ Missouri_NP0 banned_VVD a_AT0 church-run_AJ0 preschool_AJ0 from_PRP receiving_VVG a_AT0 grant_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 state’s_AJ0 scrap-tire-recycling_AJ0 grant_NN1 program_NN1 to_TO0 resurface_VVI its_DPS outdoor_AJ0 playground_NN1 ._SENT Chief_NP0 Justice_NP0 Roberts_NP0 ,_PUN writing_VVG for_PRP the_AT0 majority_NN1 ,_PUN explained_VVD that_DT0 “_NN1 the_AT0 exclusion_NN1 of_PRF Trinity_NN1 Lutheran_AJ0 from_PRP a_AT0 public_AJ0 benefit_NN1 for_PRP which_DTQ it_PNP is_VBZ otherwise_AV0 qualified_AJ0 ,_PUN solely_AV0 because_CJS it_PNP is_VBZ a_AT0 church_NN1 ,_PUN is_VBZ odious_AJ0 to_PRP our_DPS Constitution_NN1 all_DT0 the_AT0 same_DT0 ,_PUN and_CJC cannot_NN1 stand_NN1 ._SENT ”_NN1 Despite_PRP efforts_NN2 by_PRP the_AT0 education_NN1 establishment_NN1 to_TO0 limit_VVI Trinity_NP0 Lutheran’s_NP0 reach_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 Supreme_AJ0 Court_NN1 last_ORD year_NN1 declared_VVD unconstitutional_AJ0 Montana’s_NP0 exclusion_NN1 of_PRF religious_AJ0 schools_NN2 from_PRP its_DPS tuition-assistance_NN1 program_NN1 ._SENT 
“_VVB A_AT0 State_NN1 need_VM0 not_XX0 subsidize_VVI private_AJ0 education_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC once_AV0 a_AT0 State_NN1 decides_VVZ to_TO0 do_VDI so_AV0 ,_PUN it_PNP cannot_VVB disqualify_VVB some_DT0 private_AJ0 schools_NN2 solely_AV0 because_CJS they_PNP are_VBB religious_AJ0 ,_PUN ”_NP0 wrote_VVD Roberts_NP0 in_PRP Espinoza_NP0 v._PRP Montana_NP0 Dept._NN1 of_PRF Revenue_NN1 ._SENT 
Justice_NP0 Neil_NP0 Gorsuch_NP0 ,_PUN joined_VVN by_PRP Justice_NP0 Clarence_NP0 Thomas_NP0 ,_PUN wrote_VVD a_AT0 concurring_AJ0 opinion_NN1 in_PRP Espinoza_NP0 that_DT0 is_VBZ particularly_AV0 relevant_AJ0 to_PRP the_AT0 court’s_AJ0 resolution_NN1 of_PRF Carson_NP0 ._SENT The_AT0 First_ORD Amendment_NN1 ,_PUN wrote_VVD Gorsuch_NP0 ,_PUN “_NP0 forbids_VVZ laws_NN2 that_CJT prohibit_VVB the_AT0 free_AJ0 exercise_NN1 of_PRF religion_NN1 ._SENT That_DT0 guarantee_NN1 protects_VVZ not_XX0 just_AV0 the_AT0 right_NN1 to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 religious_AJ0 person_NN1 ,_PUN holding_VVG beliefs_NN2 inwardly_AV0 and_CJC secretly_AV0 ;_PUN it_PNP also_AV0 protects_VVZ the_AT0 right_NN1 to_TO0 act_VVI on_PRP those_DT0 beliefs_NN2 outwardly_AV0 and_CJC publicly_AV0 ._SENT ”_NP0 
In_PRP light_NN1 of_PRF Trinity_NP0 Lutheran_AJ0 and_CJC Espinoza_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 Maine_NP0 parents_NN2 should_VM0 have_VHI been_VBN handed_VVN an_AT0 easy_AJ0 victory_NN1 in_PRP court_NN1 ._SENT Unfortunately_AV0 ,_PUN that_DT0 is_VBZ not_XX0 what_DTQ happened_VVD ._SENT 
A_AT0 three-judge_AJ0 panel_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 U.S._NP0 Court_NN1 of_PRF Appeals_NN2 for_PRP the_AT0 1st_ORD Circuit_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ included_VVD retired_AJ0 Supreme_AJ0 Court_NN1 Justice_NP0 David_NP0 Souter_NP0 ,_PUN coyly_AV0 distinguished_VVN Espinoza_NP0 from_PRP the_AT0 Maine_NP0 case_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 panel_NN1 claimed_VVD that_CJT no-aid_AJ0 provision_NN1 at_PRP issue_NN1 in_PRP Espinoza_NP0 barred_VVD religious_AJ0 schools_NN2 from_PRP participating_VVG in_PRP a_AT0 state_NN1 tax-incentive_AJ0 program_NN1 solely_AV0 because_CJS of_PRF the_AT0 religious_AJ0 status_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 schools_NN2 ._SENT 
Maine’s_NP0 “_NP0 sectarian_AJ0 exclusion_NN1 ”_NN1 rule_NN1 ,_PUN by_PRP contrast_NN1 ,_PUN focuses_VVZ on_PRP what_DTQ the_AT0 school_NN1 teaches_VVZ through_PRP its_DPS curriculum_NN1 and_CJC related_AJ0 activities_NN2 and_CJC how_AVQ the_AT0 material_NN1 is_VBZ presented_VVN ._SENT The_AT0 panel_NN1 ,_PUN clearly_AV0 ignoring_VVG the_AT0 Gorsuch_NP0 concurrence_NN1 ,_PUN wrote_VVD :_PUN “_AJ0 Because_CJS Maine_NP0 permissibly_AV0 requires_VVZ public_AJ0 educational_AJ0 instruction_NN1 to_TO0 be_VBI nonsectarian_AJ0 for_PRP reasons_NN2 that_CJT reflect_VVB no_AT0 hostility_NN1 to_PRP religion_NN1 ,_PUN it_PNP betrays_VVZ no_AT0 hostility_NN1 toward_PRP religion_NN1 when_CJS it_PNP imposes_VVZ a_AT0 use-based_AJ0 ‘nonsectarian’_NN1 restriction_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 public_AJ0 funds_NN2 that_CJT it_PNP makes_VVZ available_AJ0 for_PRP the_AT0 purpose_NN1 of_PRF providing_VVG a_AT0 substitute_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 public_AJ0 educational_AJ0 instruction_NN1 that_DT0 is_VBZ not_XX0 otherwise_AV0 offered_VVN ._SENT ”_NN1 
University_NN1 of_PRF Baltimore_NP0 law_NN1 professor_NN1 Kimberly_NP0 Wehle_NP0 ,_PUN in_PRP a_AT0 recent_AJ0 commentary_NN1 piece_NN1 for_PRP The_AT0 Atlantic_NP0 ,_PUN questions_NN2 whether_CJS the_AT0 parents_NN2 in_PRP Carson_NP0 even_AV0 have_VHB the_AT0 right_NN1 to_TO0 sue_VVI ._SENT The_AT0 schools_NN2 these_DT0 families_NN2 desire_VVB for_PRP their_DPS children_NN2 ,_PUN she_PNP notes_VVZ ,_PUN have_VHB said_VVN that_CJT they_PNP won’t_VVB accept_VVB public-tuition_NN1 payments_NN2 if_CJS doing_VDG so_AV0 would_VM0 require_VVI compliance_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 Maine_NP0 Human_AJ0 Rights_NN2 Act_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ bars_VVZ discrimination_NN1 in_PRP employment_NN1 based_VVN on_PRP sexual_AJ0 orientation_NN1 and_CJC gender_NN1 identity_NN1 ._SENT 
Wehle_NP0 reasons_NN2 that_DT0 since_PRP the_AT0 schools_NN2 of_PRF choice_NN1 “_NN1 are_VBB unwilling_AJ0 to_TO0 participate_VVI in_PRP the_AT0 funding_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD place_NN1 ,_PUN ”_VVB a_AT0 “_AJ0 ruling_NN1 in_PRP their_DPS favor_NN1 would_VM0 not_XX0 redress_VVI any_DT0 concrete_AJ0 injury_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ is_VBZ required_VVN to_TO0 access_VVI the_AT0 federal_AJ0 courts_NN2 ._SENT ”_NP0 It’s_NP0 a_AT0 clever_AJ0 ,_PUN contorted_AJ0 and_CJC profoundly_AV0 illiberal_AJ0 argument_NN1 —_PUN 21st-century_AJ0 progressive_AJ0 academia_NN1 in_PRP a_AT0 nutshell_NN1 ._SENT 
Fortunately_AV0 ,_PUN not_XX0 all_DT0 legal_AJ0 scholars_NN2 are_VBB so_AV0 blinkered_AJ0 ideologically_AV0 ._SENT 
In_PRP a_AT0 brilliant_AJ0 Newsweek_NP0 commentary_NN1 piece_NN1 ,_PUN Notre_NP0 Dame_NP0 law_NN1 professor_NN1 Richard_NP0 Garnett_NP0 and_CJC law_NN1 student_NN1 Olivia_NP0 Rogers_NP0 point_VVB out_AVP that_CJT the_AT0 lower_AJC court’s_NN1 distinction_NN1 between_PRP religious_AJ0 status_NN1 and_CJC religious_AJ0 use_NN1 “_NN1 makes_VVZ no_AT0 sense_NN1 ,_PUN especially_AV0 in_PRP the_AT0 context_NN1 of_PRF schooling_NN1 ._SENT After_PRP all_DT0 ,_PUN in_PRP many_DT0 religious_AJ0 traditions_NN2 ,_PUN faith_NN1 is_VBZ integrated_VVN into_PRP formation_NN1 ,_PUN learning_NN1 ,_PUN education_NN1 and_CJC development_NN1 ._SENT For_PRP many_DT0 schools_NN2 ,_PUN ‘religious’_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX0 simply_AV0 what_DTQ they_PNP are_VBB ;_PUN it_PNP is_VBZ also_AV0 what_DTQ they_PNP do_VDB ._SENT ”_NP0 What’s_NP0 more_AV0 ,_PUN maintaining_VVG discriminatory_AJ0 barriers_NN2 that_CJT exclude_VVB religious_AJ0 schools_NN2 “_NN1 fundamentally_AV0 undermines_VVZ parents_NN2 '_POS ability_NN1 to_TO0 freely_AV0 exercise_VVI their_DPS religious_AJ0 beliefs_NN2 by_PRP limiting_VVG their_DPS educational_AJ0 options_NN2 ._SENT ”_NP0 
Garnett_NP0 and_CJC Rogers_NP0 understand_VVB that_CJT many_DT0 parents_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 United_NP0 States_NP0 are_VBB turning_VVG to_PRP Catholic_AJ0 and_CJC other_AJ0 religious_AJ0 schools_NN2 as_PRP partners_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 crucial_AJ0 task_NN1 of_PRF educating_VVG their_DPS children_NN2 ._SENT And_CJC they_PNP want_VVB their_DPS children’s_AJ0 schools_NN2 to_TO0 be_VBI authentically_AV0 religious_AJ0 ._SENT 
So_AV0 now_AV0 the_AT0 ball_NN1 is_VBZ in_PRP the_AT0 Supreme_AJ0 Court_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC progressives_NN2 who_PNQ demand_VVB that_CJT public_AJ0 funds_NN2 go_VVB only_AV0 to_PRP secular_AJ0 schools_NN2 are_VBB likely_AJ0 to_TO0 be_VBI disappointed_AJ0 ._SENT The_AT0 court_NN1 will_VM0 surely_AV0 give_VVI the_AT0 Maine_NP0 parents_NN2 a_AT0 sympathetic_AJ0 hearing_NN1 on_PRP Wednesday_NP0 ._SENT And_CJC before_CJS the_AT0 school_NN1 year_NN1 ends_VVZ in_PRP June_NP0 ,_PUN discrimination_NN1 based_VVN on_PRP religion_NN1 in_PRP school-choice_NN1 programs_NN2 will_VM0 probably_AV0 be_VBI banned_VVN once_AV0 and_CJC for_PRP all_DT0 ._SENT 
