PORTLAND, Maine — A Christian school is appealing a court ruling that mandates all participating educational institutions in Maine’s state tuition program to comply with state antidiscrimination laws. This case follows a significant Supreme Court decision that required Maine to include religious schools in the program.
Crosspoint Church in Bangor, represented by legal counsel, argues that state lawmakers are using the antidiscrimination law to impose obstacles on religious institutions, undermining the Supreme Court’s ruling. Legal representatives claim that amendments to the law have targeted specific religious groups, raising constitutional concerns.
The appeal is currently before the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. Alongside this case, another lawsuit has been filed concerning similar legal challenges, involving the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and St. Dominic’s Academy, a school affiliated with the diocese. Both appeals focus on the conflict between the Supreme Court ruling and Maine’s Human Rights Act, which offers protections for LGBTQ individuals in educational settings.
These cases were addressed by the same federal judge, who noted that his conclusions may lead to a significant precedent from the appeals court. The litigation arises in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision that prohibits states from discriminating against religious schools when distributing tuition assistance to families in rural areas without a public high school option.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling being seen as a triumph for advocates of school choice, its effects in Maine have been muted. To date, only one religious institution, Cheverus High School, has utilized the state’s tuition reimbursement plan since the decision.
