The Separation of Church and State

Tax credits for religious school scholarships argued before justices  (CNN, by Bill Mears, 11/3/2010)

This week, the Supreme Court heard arguments regarding a curious, and quite honestly confusing, case regarding individual tax credits for donations to organizations that award scholarships.  These scholarships go predominately to children attending private, religious schools.  "An Arizona Republic newspaper investigation found that of the $54 million in scholarships awarded in 2008, 93 percent went to students attending religious schools."

My problem with this scheme is that these religious schools are usually associated with larger parishes.  This tuition money, meant for educational purposes, can be allocated for use by the church at large for such things as roof repairs, or cemetery upkeep.  Secular schools, on the other hand, are only that; schools.  All tuition money received via scholarships would go towards the education of the child awarded the grant.  By letting citizens donate a portion of the money they otherwise would have paid in state taxes to private school scholarships, the government is essentially endorsing that institution in general, which I view as a blatant breach of the separation of church and state.