Senator Lankford Applauds Supreme Court Trinity Lutheran Ruling

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the Supreme Court 7-2 ruling, in favor of Trinity Lutheran Church and religious freedom, that the state of Missouri was wrong to exclude Trinity Lutheran Church from a program intended to help nonprofits improve the playground at its preschool and daycare center. In April 2016, Senator Lankford joined colleagues in the House and Senate to submit an amicus brief in this case in support of Trinity Lutheran Church. 

“I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision today in the Trinity Lutheran case to ensure that all organizations, whether religiously based or not, are constitutionally guaranteed the same right and opportunity to participate in government programs,” said Lankford. “Today’s decision affirms the First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion—to have more than just a belief but to live out your faith without discrimination from the government. As Chief Justice Roberts noted in his opinion, ‘The exclusion of Trinity Lutheran from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution…and cannot stand’.” 

Lankford serves as co-chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, a bipartisan, bicameral group of Members of Congress that works to ensure every American—of any faith or no faith—can enjoy their First Amendment right to the free exercise of their religion without fear of punishment from the government.  

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