Supreme Court hears oral arguments from State of Colorado and Catholic plaintiffs

The Supreme Court heard arguments in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy on November 3, 2026, concerning whether Catholic schools should be exempt from Colorado’s nondiscrimination rules to participate in the state's universal preschool program. The case centers around two Denver-area Catholic schools that refuse admission to children with LGBTQ+ parents and are seeking an exemption from the program's requirement to provide equal opportunities regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Erika Nagle, a mother whose three children attend St. Mary Catholic Parish, claims her family was denied $12,000 in taxpayer-funded preschool benefits because they chose a Catholic education. Colorado argues its policy aims to ensure disadvantaged families have access to preschool services without discrimination. However, the Supreme Court’s conservative justices appeared likely to side with the Catholic schools, suggesting a potential ruling in favor of religious exemptions over LGBTQ+ rights.