While many states are setting aside public funds for parents wanting to send their children to private Christian schools, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is supporting a lawsuit currently before the US Supreme Court in which a Catholic school, being run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, is seeking direct government funding for religious education. If successful, this would be the first religious charter school in the country, and this case will set a significant national precedent for religious schools, giving them the same charter status and funding as regular public schools. This ruling will force taxpayers to fund Catholic and other Christian education nationwide.
This case would fundamentally change American society as it would remove the US Constitution’s ban on the “establishment of religion” by the government. This would essentially convert our public schools into Sunday Catholic schools if the US Supreme Court, which has a Catholic majority, permits this.
Catholic News Agency reported the following on March 15, 2025:
• “The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is backing an Oklahoma Catholic school’s bid before the U.S. Supreme Court to become the first religious charter school in the country.” [1]
• “St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School has been battling since 2023 to receive official status as a charter school in Oklahoma.” [1]
• “A state ‘cannot disqualify some private schools’ from being subsidized ‘solely because they are religious,’ the U.S. bishops wrote.” [1]
• “Two dozen amicus briefs were filed at the Supreme Court in support of the Catholic charter school, including from the U.S. Solicitor General’s Office and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.” [1]
• “Also backing the school were a dozen states including Ohio, Texas, South Carolina, and Kansas, who argued in a brief that they have a compelling interest in expanding educational opportunities for their citizens.” [1]
• “Oral arguments over the case will be heard at the Supreme Court on April 30.” [1]
If the Catholic-led U.S. Supreme Court rules that taxpayer money can directly fund religious education, this would basically entangle the state with the church, effectively endorsing and promoting the wine of Babylon—church traditions—using public money. This would set a precedent undermining the constitutional principle of church-state separation. Additionally, such a ruling could lead to many more demands for public funding from other religious groups, forcing taxpayers to support all kinds of religious doctrines they may not agree with, which contradicts the fundamental American ideal of government neutrality in religious affairs.
While Protestant groups, particularly Evangelical Christians, have been leading efforts to unite church and state at various state levels—pushing for policies like school prayer, religious exemptions, and faith-based public funding—Catholics are not being left behind in this movement. The Catholic Church, through organizations like the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and various advocacy groups, is actively working to bring these same changes at the national level, integrating religious values into public life.
Ellen White dedicated an entire chapter in her book, The Great Controversy, in which she highlighted the work that Rome would be doing with Protestants in the last days. The chapter is called “Character and Aims of the Papacy” and reveals the following reality—clearly and unmistakably—that we can never take our eyes off of Rome, for she is the most dangerous foe to religious liberty, and the world needs to know this:
“Catholicism is gaining ground upon every side. See the increasing number of her churches and chapels in Protestant countries. Look at the popularity of her colleges and seminaries in America, so widely patronized by Protestants. Look at the growth of ritualism in England, and the frequent defections to the ranks of the Catholics. These things should awaken the anxiety of all who prize the pure principles of the gospel. Protestants have tampered with and patronized popery; they have made compromises and concessions which papists themselves are surprised to see, and fail to understand. Men are closing their eyes to the real character of Romanism, and the dangers to be apprehended from her supremacy. The people need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty.” (Great Controversy, pp. 565, 566).
Inspiration makes it very evident that we must “see” and “look” at how Rome has deceived Protestantism and is working to undermine our freedoms. We are also reminded that people are “closing their eyes” to “Romanism.” Additionally, God states that the world must be aroused to resist Rome’s policies against religious liberty. Brothers and sisters, that’s what God says. Remember, it’s the devil and his agents who will tell you to ignore Rome, at the very time when God is calling us to “look” and “see” what this power is doing, and more importantly, calling us to resist her advances.
We have to continue doing what God has commanded us to do. Rome’s plans for the last days have been covered in detail in this chapter, and we are seeing it all come to pass. God put this chapter in Great Controversy so that people would know who the key players are and not be deceived. It is only as we are faithful to the Lord’s leading that we will be safe from Satan’s devices and many others will be saved by heeding the warnings.
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