Supreme Court Hears Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer/ State Aid to Church Programs (April 19, 2017)
The Concerned Women for America (CWA) and other pro-religious rights demonstrators demand "Fair Play" as the U. S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments at a case aimed at the wall separating church and state on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. The case Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer, No. 15--577 concerned a Missouri program to make playgrounds safer that excluded ones affiliated with churches. Missouri’s constitution bars state funds from flowing, directly or indirectly, "in aid of any church, sect or denomination of religion". Trinity Lutheran Church claims its rights were violated when in 2012, Missouri rejected a grant to resurface its day-care center's playground with used tire scraps. The end result could be an important ruling on the disbursement of funds by state and local governments to religious institutions. It is likely the court will issue a decision on the merits sometime in late June. This video contains comments by: Penny Young Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America (CWA) Ralph Reed, Chairman, Faith and Freedom Coalition Tim Goeglein, Vice President of External Relations for the Christian Organization Focus on the Family David A. Cortman, Esq., senior counsel and vice president of U.S. litigation with Alliance Defending Freedom Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition. Lead pastor Church on the Hill Jennifer A. Marshall, Vice President for the Institute for Family, Community, and Opportunity for the Heritage Foundation Hillary Byrnes, Assistant General Counsel for the United States Conference of. Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Annette Kiehne, director Trinity Lutheran Child Learning Center (TLCLC) Holly Hollman is the general counsel and associate executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (video by Jeff Malet)
