US Supreme Court weighs Catholic preschool funding case

The US Supreme Court appeared open on November 3 to a challenge by Catholic preschools seeking state funding in Colorado while refusing to enroll children of gay or transgender parents.

Colorado provides tuition support for public and private preschools, including religious schools, but says participants must enroll children regardless of the race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity of the child or their parents.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, two Catholic parishes and two parents sued for a religious exemption after Colorado withheld money from the preschools. They lost in lower courts before appealing to the Supreme Court.

President Donald Trump's administration backed the Catholic plaintiffs, who cite the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom.

Colorado deputy solicitor general Helen Norton told the court that religious preschools are welcome in the program if they meet the same public funding conditions as other schools.

Several conservative justices questioned whether Colorado was imposing a condition that some religious schools could not accept. Liberal Justice Elena Kagan said the plaintiffs were seeking special treatment because of their faith.

The court is expected to issue a ruling by June 2027.