High court for now rejects religious school’s challenge to pandemic limits
The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington is seen Nov. 26, 2020. The justices rejected a Kentucky Christian school’s challenge to state pandemic restrictions Dec. 17. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)
By Carol Zimmermann • Catholic News Service • Posted December 21, 2020
WASHINGTON (CNS) The Supreme Court Dec. 17 rejected an appeal from a Kentucky Christian school to be exempt from state orders to stop in-person classes amid rising coronavirus cases.
The justices’ decision focused more on timing, saying the pandemic restrictions were expiring in the new year and most of the state’s schools were about to close for the winter holidays.
Supreme Court Rejects Kentucky Private School’s Challenge to Shutdown Order
The Supreme Court has rejected an attempt to prevent Kentucky’s governor from ordering religious schools to halt in-person learning.
In an unsigned opinion issued last week, the nation’s highest court said Gov. Andy Beshear’s order “effectively expires this week or shortly thereafter, and there is no indication that it will be renewed.”
Danville Christian Academy, which filed the suit, argued that while Beshear’s order treated public and private schools the same, schools as a whole were treated more severely than bars, restaurants, and other entities.