Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/16pdf/15-577_khlp.pdf
Page Number: 7.0

Cite as:  582 U. S. ____ (2017) 

3 

Opinion of the Court 

treasury,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  aid  of  any  church, 
sect  or  denomination  of  religion,  or  in  aid  of  any 
priest, preacher, minister or teacher thereof, as such; 
and  that  no  preference  shall  be  given  to  nor  any  dis-
crimination made against any church, sect or creed of
religion, or any form of religious faith or worship.” 

In  its  application,  the  Center  disclosed  its  status  as  a
ministry  of  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  and  specified  that
the  Center’s  mission  was  “to  provide  a  safe,  clean,  and 
attractive school facility in conjunction with an educational
program  structured  to  allow  a  child  to  grow  spiritually, 
physically, socially, and cognitively.”  App. to Pet. for Cert. 
131a.  After  describing  the  playground  and  the  safety 
hazards  posed  by  its  current  surface,  the  Center  detailed 
the anticipated benefits of the proposed project: increasing 
access  to  the  playground  for  all  children,  including  those 
with  disabilities,  by  providing  a  surface  compliant  with 
the  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act  of  1990;  providing  a 
safe,  long-lasting,  and  resilient  surface  under  the  play 
areas;  and  improving  Missouri’s  environment  by  putting
recycled tires to positive use.  The Center also noted that 
the  benefits  of  a  new  surface  would  extend  beyond  its 
students to the local community, whose children often use 
the playground during non-school hours. 

The Center ranked fifth among the 44 applicants in the
2012 Scrap Tire Program.  But despite its high score, the 
Center  was  deemed  categorically  ineligible  to  receive  a 
grant.  In  a  letter  rejecting  the  Center’s  application,  the 
program director explained that, under Article I, Section 7 
of  the  Missouri  Constitution,  the  Department  could  not 
provide financial assistance directly to a church. 

The  Department  ultimately  awarded  14  grants  as  part 
of the 2012 program.  Because the Center was operated by 
Trinity Lutheran Church, it did not receive a grant.