A group of religious schools are fighting Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID closure orders, and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is weighing in.
The Michigan Association of Non-public Schools (MANS) filed a lawsuit in federal court, requesting a restraining order to halt the recently extended ban on in-person classes for religious high schools.
Executive Director Brian Broderick stated MANS involvement in the court action is “to allow MANS and member schools to continue with their COVID-19 preparedness and safety plans – which have been effective - to safely educate and form their students consistent with their constitutional religious liberties.”
The DOJ filed a statement of interest on Friday, arguing that the Free Exercise Clause of the Constitution requires the state of Michigan to justify why it cannot provide exemptions to its school closing order for in-person instruction at religious high schools when it provides exemptions for trade and technical instruction in person, college sports teams, and other educational activities.
MRCTV’s Jessica Kramer discusses the lawsuit and it’s potential impact with GianCarlo Canaparo of the Heritage Foundation in the video above.