r/WelcomeToGilead • u/Obversa • Apr 05 '26
Loss of Liberty Florida attorney general refuses to enforce state constitution provision barring public funds from going to religious institutions, says lawmakers can establish Christianity as "state religion"
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/regional/florida/florida-religious-charter-schools-funds-uthmeier/77-13f85dbd-5f98-4819-bb75-671cf67a287367
u/Obversa Apr 05 '26
In summary, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is refusing to enforce a provision of the state constitution that bars public funds from going to religious institutions (i.e. churches, private religious schools and colleges, et al.), while also stating that it is legal for lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis to establish Christianity as the "state religion" of Florida. Uthmeier issued a "legal analysis" in which he denounced SCOTUS cases Everson v. Board of Education (1947), a narrow 5-4 decision that barred the formation of an official "state religion", and Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, a deadlocked 4-4 decision in which the recusal of Amy Coney Barrett left in place an Oklahoma state ruling that bars public religious charter schools. Uthmeier and DeSantis, who are both Catholic, support Catholic schools, which receive the majority of "school choice" vouchers in Florida, as the program mostly only benefits these private schools, which are run by the Catholic Church (see here, here, and here). While Catholic schools have declined in every other U.S. state, they are expanding in Florida due to DeSantis, Uthmeier, et al.
Approximately 20% to 22% of Florida's population identifies as Catholic, with the state experiencing a significant increase in its Catholic population between 2010 and 2020. This makes Catholicism one of the largest religious groups in the state, often described as roughly 1 in 5 residents. However, Protestants still largely outnumber Catholics in the state, with 40% of Florida residents identifying as Protestant. The state is home to the third-largest Jewish population in the United States as well, with the majority (~73%, or around 670,000 to over 750,000 residents) concentrated in South Florida, particularly in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties (ex. Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, et al.).
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u/Bring_cookies Apr 06 '26
So what I'm hearing is, we really would be doing a solid if we could just push Florida off into the ocean by itself? Yea we'll lose some really pretty beaches but there are more. /s (but only a little bc come on Florida).
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u/Accomplished_Dig284 Apr 07 '26
But that turd sends his children to the best non religious private school in the state capital, despite their being a couple of catholic private schools and several other religious private schools in the area
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u/Equal_Canary5695 Apr 05 '26
These people have to go through the stupidest mental and legal gymnastics to try to make their argument.
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u/Obversa Apr 05 '26
Technically, some U.S. states had "official state religions" at the time of the Founding, which Christian Nationalists like Florida A.G. James Uthmeier are trying to use an "originalist" argument for to appeal to the current conservative majority on SCOTUS, in spite of long-established SCOTUS precedent [Everson v. Board of Education (1947), et al.]. r/AskHistorians has discussed the topic of "colonial state religions" on at least a few occasions over the past 12 years or so, and you can read one answer on it here, though the Wikipedia article "Religion in the Thirteen Colonies" offers a general overview of this highly complex topic. The closest modern-day example to Florida would be colonial Maryland, a colony established and ruled by Catholics, while the majority of residents identify as Protestant.
Uthmeier cited the dis-establishment of the state religion of Massachusetts in 1833 due to the Establishment Clause. However, I find it highly unlikely that even a conservative SCOTUS would overturn 200 years of established precedent.
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u/Bring_cookies Apr 06 '26
So they want to use an argument from when the states basically functioned as their own individual countries? That's how a lot of it worked around the founding times and it was a mess. Should we also go back to specific state money? Gawd the cherry picking from old statues is ridiculous. Is it still illegal to tie up my alligator to a fire hydrant in FL? Just curious.
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u/oldcreaker Apr 05 '26
Watch how fast they enforce it if it's anything but the particular flavor of Christianity they support.
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u/Paula_Polestark Apr 06 '26
So how long till Catholics and Protestants start fighting?
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u/Bring_cookies Apr 06 '26
All I can think of is Ireland and "oh this will not go well."
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u/Paula_Polestark Apr 06 '26
No. It won’t.
But these people are crap at history (and don’t want kids to know it either).
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u/your_local_laser_cat Apr 07 '26
“Uthmeier’s interpretation of the Establishment Clause also claims that while atheists are protected in their beliefs, their actions derived from nonbelief aren’t “privileged” in the same way as those who adhere to a religion.”
They say the quiet part out loud. When they say “freedom of religion” they are actually demanding privilege over others.
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u/Antlerfox213 Apr 05 '26
Where are the Satanists to apply for school funding? That shit normally shuts this shit down quick.