ACLJ to Appeal Federal Court Ruling Declaring Church Site for Graduation in CT Unconstitutional
June 1, 2010

(Washington, DC) – The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) announced today it is appealing a federal district court decision issued yesterday that prohibits a Connecticut school district from holding graduation ceremonies in a cathedral.

“In this case, the court simply got it wrong,” said Vincent McCarthy, ACLJ Senior Counsel. “There need not be a constitutional crisis simply because a religious facility is used for a clearly secular purpose.”

The ruling came despite the fact that the Enfield School District had agreed to cover many of the religious symbols in First Cathedral, the proposed site of the graduation ceremonies.  The district will ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York to hear an expedited appeal.

“Constitutional law in this area is clear.  Holding a secular event at a religious facility does not constitute an endorsement of or entanglement with religion,” said McCarthy.  “We are confident that legal precedent and common sense will ultimately win out.  We look forward to arguing the case more fully in the court of appeals.”

http://www.aclj.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=3767