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It began in May of this year when Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law that gave a tax incentive to parents who send their children to private and parochial school. Denounced by the opposition as “a tax shelter for individuals who can already afford private school tuition,” it was a prelude for what was to happen June 5: the approval by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board of an application submitted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City to establish what would be the first religious public charter school in America. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who had warned that the establishment of a taxpayer-supported religious school would violate both state law and the state’s constitution, now issued another warning. In a statement after the school board’s approval vote, Gentner reiterated the illegality of what the archdiocese had done and what the school board had allowed, adding that it is “not in the best interest of taxpayers. It’s extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the state to potential legal action that could be costly.” While Governor Stitt […]