Justices to Hear Case on Catholic Preschools That Reject Children of Gay Parents

Key Points:

• The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving two Catholic preschools in Colorado that refuse to enroll children with gay or transgender parents, challenging the state's anti-discrimination rules tied to a publicly funded preschool program.
• The preschools argue that enrolling such children would violate their religious beliefs, but Colorado has denied them an exception to participate in the state program, leading to a legal dispute upheld by lower courts.
• This case represents a broader conflict between anti-discrimination laws and religious freedom claims, with the current Supreme Court having previously ruled in favor of religious groups in similar cases.
• The Archdiocese of Denver and the Catholic parishes are asking the Court to reconsider the 1990 Employment Division v. Smith precedent, which limits First Amendment protections by allowing neutral laws to apply equally without religious exemptions.
• Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch have indicated openness to revisiting this precedent, which many conservative Christians believe inadequately protects religious exercise.