The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education praised the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit as a “transformative opportunity for children across the country in both public and non-public school settings.”
“The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first and primary educators of our children, and that parents have the obligation of educating their children in the manner best suited for their development and needs,” said Bishop David O’Connell, C.M., of Trenton, New Jersey. “The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit will create opportunities for families to access much-needed resources to expand their options for choosing the best tools and learning environment for their children.”
The prelate issued his statement on October 2, as the IRS published regulations for the credit’s implementation. The United States Conference of Catholic bishops explained that the credit “provides a nonrefundable federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations. States must formally elect to opt in to the program in order for the children in that state to be eligible for scholarships funded by the program.”