OSDE Bible initiative paused by Oklahoma Supreme Court, citing constitutional concerns

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked State Superintendent Ryan Walters' plan to use taxpayer money to purchase Bibles for public schools.

The Supreme Court's decision was based upon a lawsuit filed by an Oklahoma City pastor, which argued that Walters lacked the authority to spend $3 million in taxpayer funds to buy 55,000 Bibles.

Related: Oklahoma Supreme Court freezes Bible-buying plan for public schools

The ruling also dictates that the Oklahoma State Department of Education is to pause any new requests to purchase Bibles until the constitutional validity of the plan is determined.

Organizations representing the plaintiff hail the ruling as a victory for religious freedom, while Walters has vowed to continue fighting to provide students with access to the Bible.

Gov. Kevin Stitt questioned the necessity of taxpayer spending for the Bibles, noting that many students would likely have the free Bible app on their phones.

What's next?

The ruling is a temporary stay while the court considers the broader constitutional issues surrounding the state's purchase of the Bibles. No timeline has been set for a final decision.

Shortly before the ruling, Walters announced a partnership with musician Lee Greenwood to raise private funds for the Bibles.

Related: Lee Greenwood launches campaign to donate Bibles for Oklahoma classroom use