Posted on 06/01/2010 3:40:28 AM PDT by Man50D
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- A federal judge ruled Monday that two public high schools can't hold their graduations inside a church because that would be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.
U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall's ruling followed an Enfield school board vote in April to hold graduation ceremonies for the town's two high schools at The First Cathedral in nearby Bloomfield.
Board officials said the church, which fits 3,000 people, had enough space at the right price. Two students and three of their parents sued, claiming the decision was an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.
The judge agreed, citing a visit to the church during which she viewed an environment "overwrought with religious symbols," including large crosses on the building's roof, over the main entrance and behind an indoor stage.
"A reasonable observer attending the 2010 Enfield graduations would perceive the message that Enfield endorsed the readily perceptible religious views of First Cathedral based upon the character of that forum which Enfield schools selected," she wrote.
A telephone call to a listing for the head of Enfield's board of education, Gregory Stokes, was not immediately returned Monday, Memorial Day.
Both high schools have held previous graduations at First Cathedral, and this year's ceremonies were scheduled for June 23 and 24. Several other Hartford-area schools also have used the church since 2001.
This year, groups including the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut and Americans United for Separation of Church and State warned they'd sue if Enfield didn't stop holding graduations at the church, which is about 15 miles southwest of the town.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Had it been a Mosque, I’m sure it would be fine. As a child many many moons ago I was taught that the purpose of the religion clause was to keep government out of religion.. not vice versa.
This judge should be drug behind a horse for 50 miles.
LLS
Why would a “real libertarian” be outraged by this? I think I probably qualify as one, and I attended a very nice graduation ceremony for my son last week, held in a Catholic church. I’m not seeing an intrusive government in this. Enlighten me, please.
Another female Judge.
A Judge Judy type with a mountainous ego and a mole hill of common sense.
Anyone with half a brain could figure out that they were just looking for a building large enough to hold the graduation without being rained on.
Anybody but this idiot and the two or three turds who complained.By the way I hope the kids have the names right of the complainants and remind those people for the rest of their lives what idiots they are.
As for the ACLU-———————spit.
this is BS and they should do it anyway....we must start standing up to the real meaning of separation of church and state.
Good point. I am probably just experiencing “false consciousness,” or something. I need a social worker or community organizer to help me through this.
Tyrants in black robes need to be dealt with in the next congressional session.
Obviously, these idiots don’t understand that a church is not the building, but the people.
WOW!
And what was she smoking?
the judge just punched himself out of conn and in to the obama admistrtion, hes just the3 kind of judge thier looking for
I'm a Conservative small 'L' libertarian...who's getting tired of being picked on for choosing a nickname here years ago. I should have went with Conservatarian but I'd most likely still get grief.
I am outraged - I posted a sarcastic comment - liberal PC edicts will always cost you money.
The tyranny of the minority continues. (So do those two students belong to two families, or is this one 'family' with three parents? Today one never knows.)
You are painting with an overly-broad brush...
Not true.
We are "advised" to do this by our Homeschool Legal Defense group (HSLDA), some of us do and some don't - there is no legal requirement.
By our State Constitution, homeschooling is the default education system, the state provides a public school for those who can't.
In any event, I amend my original post to state: Konnecticut, along with Illinois are two of the most homeschool friendly states.... ; )
It’s freedom of religion not freedom from religion!No established national church that’s all the amendment states nothing else!I’m sick of these the amendment means atheism in the public square rulings!
I think the point was that a “real libertarian” would be outraged by the ruling, not the use of a church.
It’s time for the schools to just can the whole graduation ceremony thing and mail out the diplomas. You’re promised an education (hopefully), not a ceremony.
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