Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19-267_1an2.pdf
Page Number: 9

Cite as:  591 U. S. ____ (2020) 

5 

Opinion of the Court 

56a.  Morrissey-Berru provided religious instruction every 
day using a textbook designed for use in teaching religion
to young Catholic students.  Id., at 45a–51a, 90a–92a; see 
App. 79–80.  Under the prescribed curriculum, she was ex-
pected to teach students, among other things, “to learn and 
express  belief  that  Jesus  is  the  son  of  God  and  the  Word 
made  flesh”;  to  “identify  the  ways”  the  church  “carries  on 
the mission of Jesus”; to “locate, read and understand sto-
ries from the Bible”; to “know the names, meanings, signs 
and  symbols  of  each  of  the  seven  sacraments”;  and  to  be
able to “explain the communion of saints.”  App. to Pet. for 
Cert. in No. 19–267, at 91a–92a.  She tested her students 
on that curriculum in a yearly exam.  Id., at 87a.  She also 
directed and produced an annual passion play.  Id., at 26a. 
Morrissey-Berru prepared her students for participation
in the Mass and for communion and confession.  Id., at 68a, 
81a, 88a–89a.  She also occasionally selected and prepared
students  to  read  at  Mass.  Id.,  at  83a,  89a.  And  she  was 
expected to take her students to Mass once a week and on 
certain feast days (such as the Feast Day of St. Juan Diego,
All  Saints  Day,  and  the  Feast  of  Our  Lady),  and  to  take 
them  to  confession  and  to  pray  the  Stations  of  the  Cross. 
Id., at 68a–69a, 83a, 88a.  Each year, she brought them to 
the Catholic Cathedral in Los Angeles, where they partici-
pated as altar servers.  Id., at 95a–96a.  This visit, she ex-
plained, was “an important experience” because “[i]t is a big 
honor” for children to “serve the altar” at the cathedral.  Id., 
at 96a. 

Morrissey-Berru  also  prayed  with  her  students.    Her 
class began or ended every day with a Hail Mary.  Id., at 
87a.  She led the students in prayer at other times, such as
when a family member was ill.  Id., at 21a, 81a, 86a–87a. 
And she taught them to recite the Apostle’s Creed and the 
Nicene Creed, as well as prayers for specific purposes, such
as in connection with the sacrament of confession.  Id., at 
20a–21a, 92a.