In a unanimous decision fueled by confusion and possibly a fear of divine retribution, Oklahoma’s Statewide Virtual Charter School Board rejected an application to launch the nation’s first taxpayer-funded Catholic school. The school, named St. Isidore of Seville, claims its “Catholic identity” is no biggie, but the board isn’t too sure about the implications of mixing public funds with holy water.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools chimed in, warning that religious charter schools might lead to legal purgatory. St. Isidore’s board, however, insisted that rejecting a religious school amounts to infringing upon religious liberty. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) joined their choir, saying that keeping Catholicism out of publicly funded schools is downright discriminatory.

Constitutional scholars, on the other hand, argue that the establishment clause is there to prevent the unholy union of state and church. Rachel Laser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State thinks it’s a “clear violation of the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers.” Critics also worry that this seemingly harmless Catholic school could have carte blanche to discriminate against religious minorities and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Despite the heavenly intentions of St. Isidore’s creators, the Charter School Board has given them a 30-day penance to revise their application. Should they continue to seek divine intervention in public education, this legal battle could find itself in the highest court in the land—a place where holy robes and stern judges alike can debate the merits of taxpayer-funded religious schools.