Separation of Church and State: The First Amendment

 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, June 21, 2022, that Maine can’t exclude religious schools from a program that offers tuition aid for private education, a decision that could increase religious organizations’ access to taxpayer money.

This decision favors the second clause of the First Amendment, the "free exercise" over the first clause, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of Religion." Both clauses are needed to retain an appropriate separation of church and state (religion and government) in this religiously pluralistic country.  The decision may also encourage "Christian nationalism" to be taught in schools.