Denver Catholic

2 JULY 8-21, 2017 | DENVER CATHOLIC Archbishop's Page Archbishop's Column Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila PHOTO OF THE WEEK ARCHBISHOP'S SCHEDULE JULY 22: Mass and rite of consecration for a virgin, Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (10 a.m.) @ArchbishopDen June 23 Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 Denver Catholic (USPS 557-020) is published bi-weekly, except monthly in January. Denver Catholic is printed by Prairie Mountain Publishing, LLC in Boulder. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $50 a year in Colorado; $57 per year out of state. Foreign countries: $57 surface, all countries, 6-8 weeks for delivery; $135 air, all other countries (average). Mexico, $63 air; Canada, $70 air. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Denver Catholic, Circulation Dept., 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or email circulation@archden.org. CIRCULATION & CUSTOMER SERVICE: 303-715-3230 or info@archden.org. General Manager KARNA SWANSON Director ANDREW WRIGHT Business Manager MICHAEL O'NEILL The Supreme Court's welcome surprise R ight in the middle of the Church's celebration of the annual Fortnight for Freedom, good news came down from the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving religious freedom that should inspire people of faith. The court ruled, in keeping with the First Amendment, that Trinity Lutheran school could not be barred from a state-run play- ground resurfacing program because it was a religious institution. You might be thinking, "What does a playground have to do with religious freedom?" The details of the case are revealing. Trinity Lutheran Church Learning Center is a pre- school located in Columbia, Mo., that wanted to improve the safety of its playground, which consisted of gravel and grass. It applied in 2012 to a state program that provides grants to buy shredded, recycled tires and was rejected because it is a– liated with a church. That year there were 44 applicants to the program and based on its pro- posal Trinity Lutheran's application was ranked fi fth best. And yet, the state of Missouri disqualifi ed the pre- school, citing its Blaine Amendment. These anti-Catholic amendments were added to more than 30 state's legal codes – including Colorado's — in the late 1800s and early 1900s to prevent state funds from going to Catholic schools in favor of the Prot- estant-dominated public schools. The cultural force behind these amendments was the "Know-Noth- ing " movement, which fomented fear of Catholics as papal agents plotting to take over the country and immi- grants as competitors for jobs. They earned their nickname by replying, "I know nothing," when they were asked about their political beliefs. Among their objectives were prevent- ing Catholics and other immigrants from being elected for political o– ce and denying them jobs in the private sector. Things have improved since those days, but it is still not the case that people of faith always receive the same benefi ts that are publicly avail- able to the rest of society, without being forced to check their faith at the door. Take, for instance, the Little Sisters of the Poor, whom the federal government tried to force to provide contraception through its Health and Human Services mandate. At an even more local level, one only need to look at the Douglas County school voucher case for a recent example of this discrimina- tory treatment. Citing our state's Blaine Amendment, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in June 2015 that the county could not provide scholarships to low-income students who wanted to attend a religious school. Rather than treating stu- dents who wish to attend religious schools the same as those who choose to attend public schools, the court ruled against the program. States with Blaine amendments use it as an excuse to override a low-income parents desire to choose the school their child attends. The implication of the court's ruling is that they know better than parents what would be best for their children. Thankfully, the U.S. Supreme Court has asked the Colorado Supreme Court to revisit the Douglas County case, following its Trinity Lutheran decision. When he visited the U.S. in Sep- tember 2015, Pope Francis rightly noted that "various forms of modern tyranny seek to suppress religious freedom, or […] try to reduce it to a subculture without right to a voice in the public square …." Every Cath- olic has a right to speak in the public square and to contribute the gifts of their faith to the common good! As we celebrate the birth of our country, let us all strive to protect and promote the valuable contribution of faith to our nation by living out our faith in the public square and through the witness of our personal holiness. Let us support one of the inalienable freedoms guaranteed by our constitu- tion — religious freedom. May we imi- tate the example of St. Thomas More, who was "the King 's good servant, but God's fi rst." May God bless our coun- try and strengthen it in protecting religious freedom! Students reach for the Blessed Sacrament during adoration at Steuben- ville of the Rockies, which took place June 23-25. Over 2,500 students from around the nation attended the annual youth conference, the theme of which this year was based on Revelation 21:5. PHOTO BY STEVE MASSING To all attending #SteubieDenver17 this weekend, I am praying you experience a true encounter with Christ, who makes all things new! +sja A recent Supreme Court decision ruled that a Missouri religious school could be eligible for state funds. PHOTO BY JOE RAVI

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