High Court takes dim view of church-state barrier

The Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to an Arizona school
tuition credit program that critics contend has principally benefited
religious institutions. The 5–4 decision, combined with a 2007 ruling
rejecting a similar challenge to the Bush administration's faith-based
office, seems to solidify the court's skepticism toward attempts to
derail government funding of religious programs.

The decision on
April 4 was hailed by supporters of religiously based education and
makes it tougher for taxpayers to challenge such scholarship programs by
claiming that they violate church-state separation.

The Arizona
tax credit, enacted in 1997, allows participants to receive
dollar­-for-dollar tax credits for donations to so-called "student
tuition organizations," or STOs, of up to $500 for individuals and
$1,000 for married couples.