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Republicans Say the Fight for St. Isidore Isn’t Over

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oklahomawatch.org – Em Luetkemeyer – 2025-05-24 06:00:00


The U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4, blocking the creation of Oklahoma’s first publicly funded religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, allowing the state Supreme Court ruling against it to stand. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond opposed the school, citing church-state separation, while Governor Kevin Stitt and Superintendent Ryan Walters strongly supported it, promising to continue the fight. The deadlock set no national precedent, and similar cases could return to the Supreme Court. National figures like Senator James Lankford criticized the ruling and support faith-based educational options, signaling ongoing legal battles ahead.

A deadlocked Supreme Court blocked the creation of the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school, but some lawmakers said this isn’t where the fight ends.

The court was split 4-4, with conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett recusing, allowing a ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court to stand. The case, Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, split Republicans over the separation of church and state and religious freedom. It will also likely be a major issue in Oklahoma’s gubernatorial race next year.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who has announced a run for governor, has been at the forefront of the opposition to the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, suing over it in 2023. Drummond said he feels “very relieved for our constitutional integrity” and is pleased about no further invasion into the boundary between church and state.

“My conservative colleagues fail to grasp that to rule otherwise would be exactly the criticism that we lay at the feet of liberal justices,” Drummond said. “We call them activist judges that rule from the bench and modify established law.”

Drummond said that in Oklahoma, there’s not a path forward for religious charter schools, as this ruling settled the matter. But a similar case from another state, with a school run by a different church, could result in a different court outcome. Justice Barrett did not say why she recused herself from the case, but CNN reported she had ties to several lawyers representing the school. The deadlock meant no precedent was set, and the Supreme Court could take up another case involving a religious charter school in the future, potentially without the same kind of conflict.

After the ruling, Drummond directed “condolences” on social media to Gov. Kevin Stitt and Ryan Walters, the superintendent of Oklahoma schools. Stitt and Walters have both voiced strong support for the school and filed amicus briefs to the Supreme Court. Walters is a rumored candidate for Oklahoma’s 2026 governor’s race as well, which would put him in a primary against Drummond.

Stitt called the ruling a nondecision.

“Now we’re in overtime,” Stitt said in a written statement. “There will be another case just like this one and Justice Barrett will break the tie. This is far from a settled issue. We are going to keep fighting for parents’ rights to instill their values in their children and against religious discrimination.”

Walters has long jockeyed for a position in MAGA world and has openly advocated bringing down walls between church and state. He said the ruling was “really unfortunate” on NewsNation.

“But here’s where we go from here,” Walters said. “We’re going to be the state that brings it back up. We’re going to continue fighting for parents to have these opportunities.”

The case had caught the attention of several national lawmakers, with Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford in March signing on to an amicus brief in support of the school. Lankford called the ruling a disappointment in a written statement.

“But it’s not the final word,” Lankford said.

“The Supreme Court has previously made clear that when states offer public programs, they can’t discriminate against religious participants,” he said. “Families in Oklahoma deserve educational options that reflect their values, and that includes faith-based schools. I’m proud to stand with the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board in continuing to defend equal treatment under the law.”

This article first appeared on Oklahoma Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Republicans Say the Fight for St. Isidore Isn’t Over appeared first on oklahomawatch.org

Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

This content presents a generally Center-Right perspective by highlighting opposition to a publicly funded religious charter school primarily from conservative figures and Republican lawmakers, emphasizing themes of religious freedom, parental rights, and skepticism toward judicial activism. It includes statements from conservative officials advocating for faith-based education options, portraying the issue as a matter of fighting against perceived government and judicial overreach, which aligns with typical center-right priorities. The coverage is balanced but clearly associates the conservative viewpoint with support for religious charter schools and opposition to the court’s deadlock ruling.

News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed

Oklahoma City breast cancer survivor defying the odds

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www.youtube.com – KFOR Oklahoma’s News 4 – 2025-07-10 06:32:12

SUMMARY: Oklahoma City breast cancer survivor Genna was told she had about a year to live four years ago. After over a decade battling cancer, including being on oxygen and using a wheelchair, she joined a clinical trial at OU Health’s Stephenson Cancer Center. Now, she feels great, no longer senses her cancer, and is holding stable. Genna is back to gardening and training for the National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa. Her mindset is crucial—she fights back from setbacks and encourages others to keep trying and consider clinical trials. Genna’s legacy is resilience, inspiring her family and community.

An Oklahoma City breast cancer survivor is redefining what’s possible after what appeared to be a terminal diagnosis.

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News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed

Body of missing 22-year-old swimmer recovered

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www.youtube.com – KFOR Oklahoma’s News 4 – 2025-07-08 22:20:37

SUMMARY: The body of 22-year-old Michael Jayden De Barra, who went missing while swimming in the Deep Fork River on the 4th of July, was recovered Saturday morning. Rescue crews initially suspended their search Friday due to turbulent waters but resumed at 11:00 AM Saturday after a police drone located his body downstream. Family members, devastated by the tragic loss during their holiday celebration, described Michael as charming, a family man who loved God, animals, Morgan Wallen, and was a proud business owner. The family has requested privacy, and a GoFundMe has been established to support them during this difficult time.

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News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed

Search on hold for missing swimmer

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www.youtube.com – KFOR Oklahoma’s News 4 – 2025-07-08 01:27:11

SUMMARY: Search efforts for a missing 22-year-old swimmer in Northeast Oklahoma County have been put on hold after he went under the Deep Fork River near Bullhead Falls. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on July 4 during a holiday outing with friends. Emergency crews from Oklahoma City and Luther, including a helicopter, searched extensively but were forced to call off the operation due to dangerous conditions like strong currents, recent heavy rains, and submerged trees. Rescuers say the man was swept away by roaring rapids; despite attempts, it was too risky to continue water searches. The family remains in grief, hoping for updates.

Search on hold for missing swimmer

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