Church appeals Maine court ruling on anti-discrimination law

A Christian school, Crosspoint Church, is contesting a Maine law that mandates religious schools receiving taxpayer-funded tuition to comply with anti-discrimination laws. This legal challenge, initiated in 2023 by the First Liberty Institute, follows changes to the state's school choice program after the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in Carson V. Macon, which favored religious institutions. The plaintiffs argue that the new requirements are unconstitutional and discriminatory, as they impose penalties on religious schools for adhering to their beliefs. The U.S. District Court denied the church's request for a preliminary injunction, stating that they were unlikely to succeed in their legal challenge. The court acknowledged that the state had altered the law post-Supreme Court ruling, which had previously allowed religious schools to be exempt from certain nondiscrimination provisions. The plaintiffs contend that this change is a 'poison pill' designed to deter religious schools from participating in the tuition program. Maine's updated rules require schools receiving public funds to follow the Human Rights Act, which includes provisions for LGBTQ+ inclusion. Violations can lead to significant financial penalties, raising concerns among religious institutions about their ability to operate according to their beliefs. The case could potentially escalate to the Supreme Court, depending on the outcome of the appeal. The First Liberty Institute argues that the lower court's ruling highlights important legal questions regarding religious discrimination in education. They assert that families should have the freedom to choose educational options without state interference, emphasizing that the Supreme Court's previous ruling should end the long-standing exclusion of religious schools from the state's school choice program.