最高法院周二审理学前教育宗教豁免案：天主教机构挑战Colorado反歧视要求
联邦最高法院定于周二（11月3日）审理一宗学前教育案件：Denver 大主教区等天主教机构要求豁免 Colorado 州全民学前计划的反歧视要求。特朗普政府支持挑战方。此案将检验保守派宗教力量能否延续其近年来在最高法院的一系列胜绩。
Colorado 自2023年起为儿童提供每周15小时的州资助学前教育，公立、私立、世俗与宗教幼儿园均可参加，但按州法，参加计划的幼儿园须给予所有儿童平等的入学机会，不论学生或家长的性取向与性别认同。大主教区下辖34所天主教幼儿园，其政策是只接收认同天主教信仰的家庭，包括在同性关系与性别认同问题上的立场。大主教区与州内其他天主教机构及一个家庭在该计划启动时提起诉讼，称反歧视要求加重了其宗教实践的负担。
Colorado 州官员则指责这些天主教幼儿园意在寻求法律许可，在拿纳税人钱的同时歧视4岁儿童及其家庭。州方主张，该计划的平等机会要求对所有参加者一视同仁、中立适用，不触犯宪法第一修正案的宗教自由条款。
诉讼经过是：位于 Colorado 的一名联邦法官2024年裁定维持州计划对 LGBT 群体的保护，位于 Denver 的联邦第十巡回上诉法院去年维持原判，案件由此上诉到最高法院。挑战方由 Becket 宗教自由基金代理，该机构自称在最高法院打过的13宗案件无一败绩。
最高法院目前以6比3的保守派多数著称，近年在宗教自由与 LGBT 权益的冲突中多次判宗教一方胜诉，包括2022年 Maine 州学费资助案与2020年 Montana 州税收抵免案。支持 Colorado 的美国公民自由联盟（ACLU）等团体在法庭文件中说，若判天主教机构胜诉，等于强迫政府把纳税人的钱给那些行为与州政策目标相悖的受益者。
Supreme Court to Hear Colorado Preschool Religious-Exemption Case on Tuesday
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday, November 3, in a challenge by Catholic groups to Colorado rules barring anti-LGBT discrimination at publicly funded preschools. The Archdiocese of Denver and other Catholic entities are seeking an exemption from the nondiscrimination requirement in the state's preschool funding program. President Donald Trump's administration is backing the Catholic groups, and the case tests whether conservative religious interests can extend their winning streak at the court.
Since 2023, Colorado children have been eligible for 15 hours per week of state-funded preschool. Participating preschools may be public or private, secular or religious, but under state law each must give all children an equal opportunity to enroll, regardless of the sexual orientation or gender identity of the students or parents. The archdiocese oversees 34 Catholic preschools and, according to court papers, admits students only from families who support Catholic beliefs, including on same-sex relationships and gender identity. The archdiocese, other Catholic entities and a Colorado family sued as the universal preschool initiative was ramping up, arguing that the anti-discrimination mandate burdened their religious exercise.
Colorado officials have accused the Catholic preschools of seeking legal permission to discriminate against 4-year-olds and their families while receiving taxpayer dollars. The state argues that its equal-opportunity requirements are neutral, apply generally to participating groups, and do not intrude on the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause.
A Colorado-based federal judge upheld the state program's protections for LGBT people in 2024, and the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that ruling last year, setting up the Supreme Court appeal. The challengers are represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which says it is undefeated in 13 cases before the Supreme Court.
The court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has sided with conservative religious litigants in a series of recent disputes, including a 2022 ruling on Maine's tuition assistance program and a 2020 ruling on Montana tax credits. Groups backing Colorado, including the ACLU, told the justices that siding with the Catholic groups would force the government to provide taxpayer dollars to beneficiaries whose conduct undercuts state policy goals, including equality goals.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：图：位于华盛顿的联邦最高法院大楼。GSM自家图库联邦素材包固定图。 / The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington. GSM federal asset-pack file photo.
