Two religious schools from Maine argued in federal court on Tuesday against the state’s anti-discrimination law, which they say infringes on their constitutional right to free exercise of religion. To what extent Maine can allow religious schools to follow their practices — many of which uphold traditional Christian values and can be inherently exclusionary to

Crosspoint Church in Bangor and St. Dominic Academy in Auburn asked the court to stop a Maine law that prevents some private religious schools from receiving public funds.

The schools want taxpayers to pay for private education even if that school violates the Maine Human Rights Act. As it stands now in Maine law, the schools have to comply with anti-discrimination provisions in State law.