Judge Rules Two Conn. High Schools Cannot Hold Graduation Ceremonies in a Christian Church

A federal judge ruled today (June 1, 2010) that two Connecticut public high schools cannot hold graduation ceremonies inside a Christian church, because using a church for graduation would be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall ruled against Enfield High School and Enrico Fermi High School, both in Enfield, Connecticut. The district had planned to hold two school commencements at First Cathedral Church in Bloomfield on June 23 and 24, according to the Christian Broadcast Network website.

The judge said Enfield had unconstitutionally entangled itself with religion by agreeing to cover much of the church's religious imagery. She also said the town coerced the plaintiffs to support religion by forcing them to enter the church for graduation.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the group Americans for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit on behalf of two students and three of their parents, arguing that the graduation plan violated the First Amendment.