Blessed Trinity: Implications of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer for Religious Liberty

This article examines the outcome in Trinity Lutheran of Columbia v. Comer (Trinity Lutheran), wherein the Supreme Court ruled that religious institutions, and believers, cannot be singled-out and/or denied generally available benefits simply because of their faiths. Trinity Lutheran is significant because the Court emphasized the importance of preserving religious liberty. In light of Trinity Lutheran’s likely impact on the Supreme Court’s First Amendment jurisprudence as to the free exercise of religion, after reviewing the facts, background, and judicial history in this dispute, this article reflects on the implications it raises for the relationship between religious freedom and education.