washington u.s. supreme court set week hear closely watch case test limit religious right new justice neil gorsuch judicial record indicate could tip court toward side church challenge missouri ban state fund religious entities trinity lutheran church locate columbia missouri run preschool daycare center say missouri unlawfully exclude grant program provide state fund nonprofit group buy rubber playground surface missouri constitution prohibit church sect denomination religion receive state taxpayer money gorsuch embrace expansive view religious right colorado-based federal appeal court judge monday hear first arguments since become justice last week bench wednesday justices hear trinity lutheran case one important current term gorsuch appoint president donald trump restore supreme court 5-4 conservative majority trinity lutheran want public fund replace playground gravel rubber surface make recycle tire would safe children play u.s. constitution call separation church state guarantee free exercise religion least victory trinity lutheran would help religious organizations nationwide win public dollars certain purpose health safety also could bolster case use public money vouchers help pay children attend religious school rather public school school choice program back many conservatives example colorado top court 2015 find douglas county voucher program violate state constitutional provision similar missouri trinity lutheran legal effort spearhead alliance defend freedom conservative christian legal activist group argue missouri policy violate u.s. constitution guarantee free exercise religion equal protection law church win religious organizations exclude general public welfare benefit apply everybody say erik stanley alliance lawyer represent church refer gorsuch stanley say definitely friend religious liberty hopeful continue court grateful get participate important case 2013 gorsuch side evangelical christian owners arts-and-crafts retailer hobby lobby allow owners private company object religious ground provision federal healthcare law require employers provide medical insurance pay women birth control gorsuch write concur opinion hobby lobby owners face choice exercise faith save business supreme court late affirm rule missouri say nothing unconstitutional grant program trinity lutheran remain free without public subsidy worship teach pray practice aspect faith however wish state merely decline offer financial support state say legal paper church draw support religious community include u.s. conference catholic bishops mormon church jewish group group file legal paper oppose trinity lutheran include american civil liberties union say government fund church precisely constitution forbid force state provide cash build church property could open floodgates program coerce taxpayers underwrite religion say daniel mach director aclu program freedom religion belief mach say three-quarters u.s. state provision like missouri alliance defend freedom also oppose gay marriage transgender protections abortion another major case involve religion supreme court could take term begin october represent colorado bakery christian owner argue constitution promise religious freedom mean make wed cake gay couple trinity lutheran sue federal court 2012. st. louis-based 8th u.s. circuit court appeal 2015 uphold trial court dismissal suit appeal court say accept church arguments would unprecedented note supreme court 2004 decision case locke v. davey uphold bar washington state scholarships students prepare ministry justice gorsuch replace late fellow conservative antonin scalia one two dissenters locke rule state withhold generally available benefit solely religious ground like unconstitutional special tax religion scalia say judicial observers describe gorsuch much mold scalia missouri grant program mean keep tire landfills also foster children safety church brief high court state rubber playground surface accomplish state purpose whether cushion fall pious profane trump pick aboard top u.s. court tackle religious right