Supreme Court Weakens Wall Between Church and State

In a decision of historical significance, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that a church is entitled to direct government funding to resurface its playground. It’s the first time the court has used the free exercise clause of the Constitution to require a direct transfer of taxpayers’ money to a church. In other words, the free exercise clause has trumped the establishment clause, which was created precisely to stop government money going to religious purposes. Somewhere, James Madison is shaking his head in disbelief.

Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Missouri, had applied for funding from a program run by the state scrap tire program (really!) that provides reimbursements for schools to resurface their playgrounds to a springy rubber surface that’s kinder on kids’ knees when they fall.