Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19a1070_08l1.pdf
Page Number: 15

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

3 

KAVANAUGH, J., dissenting 

be averted by first identifying and distinguishing four cate-
gories of laws: (1) laws that expressly discriminate against 
religious  organizations;  (2)  laws  that  expressly  favor  reli-
gious organizations; (3) laws that do not classify on the ba-
sis of religion but apply to secular and religious organiza-
tions  alike;  and  (4)  laws  that  expressly  treat  religious 
organizations  equally  to  some  secular  organizations  but 
better or worse than other secular organizations.  As I will 
explain,  this  case  involving  Nevada’s  reopening  plan  falls 
into the fourth category.   
  First  are  laws  that  expressly  discriminate  against  reli-
gious  organizations  because  of  religion.    The  recent  Espi-
noza  case  fell  into  that  category.    Espinoza  v.  Montana 
Dept. of Revenue, ante, p. ___.  The State of Montana pro-
vided tax credits to those who contributed to private school 
scholarship  organizations.    But  there  was  a  significant 
catch:  Families  eligible  for  scholarship  funds  could  use 
those funds only at secular private schools, not religious pri-
vate schools.  Cases like that are straightforward examples 
of religious discrimination.  And as a general rule, laws that 
discriminate against religion are, in the Court’s words, “odi-
ous  to  our  Constitution.”    Espinoza,  ante,  at  22  (internal 
quotation marks omitted); see Trinity Lutheran Church of 
Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, 582 U. S. ___ (2017); Good News 
Club v. Milford Central School, 533 U. S. 98 (2001); Rosen-
berger v. Rector and Visitors of Univ. of Va., 515 U. S. 819 
(1995); Larson v. Valente, 456 U. S. 228 (1982); McDaniel v. 
Paty, 435 U. S. 618, 629 (1978) (Brennan, J., concurring in 
judgment); see also Murphy v. Collier, 587 U. S. ___ (2019) 
(KAVANAUGH,  J.,  concurring  in  grant  of  application  for 
stay); cf. Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. Hialeah, 508 
U. S. 520 (1993). 
  Second are laws that expressly favor religious organiza-
tions  over  secular  organizations.    Examples  include  cases 
where a legislature affords religious organizations certain