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Guest columnists Three members of the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board tell why they think a virtual Catholic school is no threat to religious liberty. The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board’s recent vote approving St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School was rooted in two ideas: a state’s constitutional duty to treat religious groups fairly, and the benefits of new educational opportunities for parents seeking alternatives to traditional district schools. The first recognizes that discrimination based on religion is unlawful religious discrimination; the second, that one-size-fits-all solutions in education do not work. Members of the board volunteer because we care about the quality of the education kids receive in Oklahoma. Reasonable people of good faith can respectfully and passionately disagree — especially on complex matters of constitutional law. Unfortunately, passions from both sides in these discussions have moved beyond disagreement to mutual vilification. Accusations and false narratives rule the day. The state’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit against us in the Oklahoma Supreme Court, saying our vote violated our oath of office. In fact, it’s our commitment to that oath that wouldn’t allow us to discriminate against a Catholic applicant (a religious minority), simply because they are […]