Two Enfield High School students and their parents had objected to the high school from holding the graduation in a church, so they, along with the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State brought the suit, saying using the church for graduations would be unconstitutional. The judge today made his ruling.
“We acknowledge the profound belief of adherents to many faiths that there must be a place in the student’s life for precepts of a morality higher even than the law we today enforce,” the judge wrote. “While agreeing with that principle, it is the conclusion of this court that that “place” is not graduation night at First Cathedral for Enfield High School or Enrico Fermi High School.”
So that means, no graduation at the cathedral this year. The ACLU is qute pleased with the decision. But the school has been holding its graduation ceremonies for both of its two high schools since 2007 at First Cathedral, when the athletic fields at Fermi High were too torn up for the ceremony. All religious objects were then removed or covered.
The ACLU who represented the students had asked in November the district to reconsider, but on Jan. 26, the Enfield Board voted six to three to hold its two 2010 graduations at the schools themselves, but that vote was rescinded by a five to three vote on Feb. 23.
The school district explored other sites including Western New England College, Springfield Symphony Hall, the Mass Mutual Center, the Bushnell Theater, XL Center, and the Connecticut Convention Center.
“Having considered all three analytical frameworks for determining whether the government action at issue has a principal effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion, the court concludes that it does not have such an effect, and therefore violates the Establishment Clause. By holding public high school graduations in an identifiable church, under the circumstances and context of this situation that would be known to a reasonable observer, Enfield Public Schools endorses religion,” the judge ruled. “By attempting to “neutralize” the First Cathedral by covering up many (albeit not all) of its religious images, Enfield Public Schools unconstitutionally entangles itself with religion. And finally, by requiring a graduating senior — or a parent of one — to enter First Cathedral in order to be able to participate in his or her graduation — or to watch their child graduate — Enfield Public Schools has coerced plaintiffs to support religion.”
Judge ruling
newsdeskinternational
/ 06/03/2010Appeal dropped in Conn. church graduations case
School officials in Connecticut have voted not to appeal a federal judge’s ruling against plans to hold public high school graduations in a church.
The Enfield School Board voted 5-4 on Thursday, meaning the graduations will be held on school grounds.
A federal judge in Bridgeport had issued an injunction barring graduations in The First Cathedral in Bloomfield on June 23 and 24 until she could hold a hearing on legal issues. She said an observer would believe Enfield endorsed the church’s religious views if it held graduations there.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut represented two students suing to stop the church ceremonies. Union attorney David J. McGuire says the school board’s vote is right for the students and community.
Board officials had said the church had enough space at the right price.
newsdeskinternational
/ 06/08/2010Conn. school board to appeal church grad ruling
A Connecticut school board has voted to appeal a federal court ruling that would keep the town’s two high school graduation ceremonies out of a megachurch.
Tuesday night’s 5-4 vote by Enfield’s Board of Education reverses a board decision last week to let stand the temporary injunction issued by U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall.
Hall found that holding the June 23 and 24 graduations at First Cathedral Baptist Church in Bloomfield would amount to an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.
Attorney Vincent McCarthy, who’s representing the school district, plans to file with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
American Civil Liberties Union attorney David McGuire says he’s disappointed by the decision but believes the injunction will be upheld.
Janet
/ 01/21/2011And another case
Atlanta School Board Votes Not to Move Graduation From Local Church
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