Divorced parent can’t veto religious school attendance

Howard Fischer

Douglas Dispatch

One parent in a divorce case can’t veto a decision by a former spouse to send their child to a religious school, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday. The judges rejected arguments by Gerald Romine that the push by his wife to have their children get a religious education interferes with his constitutional right to direct their education and upbringing. Judge Daniel Barker, writing for the unanimous court, said nothing entitles him to get his way, even if the issue is religious training.

Potentially more significant, the judges said an objecting parents even can be forced to pay the tuition at the religious school. The only real issue, Barker said, is what is in the best interest of the children.

Source: http://www.douglasdispatch.com/articles/2009/06/03/news/school_news/doc4a26f04023432959755481.txt