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On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the United States heard the oral argument for the controversial Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer. The case tackles the idea of a separation between church and state, “The question: Can states refuse to give money to churches even when it's for something that doesn't involve worship,” noted Anchor Lester Holt during NBC Nightly News. And judging by questions asked by the justices, it appeared as though the majority might side with the church. And judging by NBC’s coverage, the network was appalled by the idea.
“When Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, Missouri, heard about a program for resurfacing playgrounds using rubber from scrapped tires, it applied for a state grant at the preschool it runs,” reported Justice Correspondent Pete Williams, “But the state said ‘no’ because its constitution says ‘no state money can be given in aid of any church.’”
Williams didn’t seem to think the church’s claims of religious discrimination had any legal standing. “38 other states have laws like Missouri’s,” he noted, “Their defenders say they don't interfere with religious practices, they just choose not to subsidize them.” That’s despite the argument of David Cortman, the church’s lawyer that “The church here was not seeking anything preferable or favorable treatment, it was seeking equal treatment here.”
The NBC correspondent sat down with Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State who declared that “If Trinity Lutheran wins this case, it will be a radical change from the way we've always treated religious institutions in this country.”
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