Both Governor Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond are claiming they are strong supporters of religious liberty, but they have opposing views on an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court hearing involving the approval of a publicly funding religious charter school in Oklahoma.
Stitt has filed an amicus brief supporting the creation of the Catholic Church’s St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School. Drummond is representing the state of Oklahoma against the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board for approving the contract with St. Isidore.
Stitt also issued an executive order on Monday which directs all state agencies to root out laws, regulations, and policies that exclude religious individual or institutions from public programs.
“Religious freedom is foundational to our way of life in Oklahoma. It’s not a privilege handed out by the government—it’s a God-given right that the government must protect,” said Stitt. “We will not stand by while faith-based organizations – including faith-based schools – are pushed to the sidelines by activist bureaucrats or hostile politicians.”
Drummond sees religious freedom and liberty differently than Stitt.
“Gov. Stitt has been clear that he supports our tax dollars funding radical Muslim schools teaching Sharia Law, and I couldn’t disagree with him more. If a taxpayer-funded religious charter school is allowed to open in Oklahoma, it will only be a matter of time before taxpayers are funding schools dedicated to Sharia law, Wicca indoctrination, Scientology instruction — even the Church of Satan. As a devoted Christian and a strong supporter of religious liberty, I can tell you that the only way to protect religious liberty is for the state not to sponsor any religion at all — just like our Founding Fathers intended.”
Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court are scheduled for April 30 in the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond case.
