You know who could really use an audit?

February 24, 2026

Good Tuesday morning,

A few years ago, The Center for Christian Virtue invested about $5 million in purchasing a building in Columbus with a bird’s-eye view of the Statehouse.

Bill Phillis wrote a guest column about the organization’s growth in the Columbus Dispatch that you can read here.

Philis looked at their 990 report and found the CCV raised more than $4 million last year as they lobby for, among other things, private school vouchers.

He was writing in response to an article the Dispatch had published regarding the CCV and its president, Aaron Baer.

Phillis, who is addressing the serious issue of separation of church and state, notes Baer told the Dispatch: “The church should influence the government, but the government should absolutely stay out of the business of the church.”

Phillis writes in his column: “Baer is saying give us tax funds and government influence and protection with no strings attached. Further, (Baer) is saying, what we do with the tax money is not the business of the general public.”

Under their umbrella, the CCV has established the Ohio Christian Education Network that boasts on its website that it represents more than 170 Evangelical and Catholic schools in Ohio.

The Christian Education Network charges its participating schools $5 per pupil per year.

You don’t notice State Rep. Jamie Callender asking any questions regarding where that money comes from, but you can bet a large number of the 170 schools in the Christian Education Network are taking in voucher money from the state, i.e. public tax dollars.

So are tax dollars supplementing the Center for Chrisitan Virtue’s purchase of a $5 million building?

Are public tax dollars paying for the organization to lobby?

Are public tax dollars lifting up the Ohio Christian Education Network?

Here is what the Ohio Christian Network lists as its “commitment to members.”

• Advancing the core principles at the Ohio Statehouse
• Serve as a liaison for questions regarding legislation or issues with the Ohio Department of Education
• Ohio-specific legislative updates reflecting the most pressing issues affecting Christian schools
• Annual Statehouse Advocacy Day
• Annual Report of Christian Education in Ohio
• Concierge-level service at the Ohio Statehouse including scheduling meetings with your legislators and Statehouse tours
• Onsite and/or regional legislative advocacy training

In asking more schools to join, their website states “join a movement committed to ensuring every Ohio student has access to a biblically-based education.”

This is at the essence of our lawsuit. The Ohio Constitution is clear, and the constitutional framers were clear, that tax dollars should not pay for private, religious schools.

Yet, more than 90 percent of the private schools taking the vast majority of the $1.7 billion in voucher money in the next two years will be religious.

Is there a double standard here?

Of course, there is and this is yet another reason why we are suing the state and challenging the constitutionality of the harmful EdChoice private school voucher program.

Is your district part of our historic lawsuit? Check here.

If not, why not? Learn more here.

Sincerely,

Vouchers Hurt Ohio