The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 6-3 in favor of allowing private and parochial schools to receive educational materials and equipment under a federal program that had distributed these items to schools nationwide since 1965, the Washington Post reports.

The high court overturned an appeals court ruling that barred these schools from receiving "Chapter 2" benefits that have provided everything from filmstrips to computers and Internet access to public school systems around the country. The program requires these school districts to "loan" equipment and materials to all schools in their area.

A lawsuit filed by Louisiana activists sought to prevent religious schools from participating in the program, based on their claim tax dollars were supporting specific religious causes.

The decision drew immediate criticism from those fighting public aid to religious schools.

"At public expense, religious schools can now have students surf the Internet to read the Bible in religion classes, learn theology from Jerry Falwell or download crucifixes as screen savers. We can now expect religious schools to clamor for an ever-increasing number of services paid for with tax dollars," Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told the Post.

While this week's decision appears to go against at least two earlier Supreme Court decisions limiting what materials the government could provide religious schools, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor pushed forward language that specifically states religious schools could use public monies to add to, but not take the place of, their own funds.

Some observers say the decision appears to open the door for private and parochial schools to use public tuition vouchers, as long as voucher programs are open to a wide variety of schools.

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