California schools drop plans to hold graduations at church

[Judi Lynn]

California schools drop plans to hold graduations at church

By The Associated Press
06.09.05

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Two Orange County schools that planned to hold commencement ceremonies at Saddleback Church have changed their plans after several students, parents and a civil rights group raised concerns about hosting a secular event at a place of worship.

The ceremonies had been planned by Northwood High in Irvine and Serrano Intermediate in the Saddleback Valley at the Baptist megachurch. Both schools have used the church in previous years with no problems.
(snip)

“Our understanding is, because courts consider graduation ceremonies to be a compulsory activity, that having them in a sectarian venue is a violation ... of the First Amendment,” said Kevin O’Grady, associate director of the Anti-Defamation League in Orange County and Long Beach.
(snip)

O’Grady said he was concerned when he was shown a video of the 2004 graduation to see students sitting under “literally a 20-foot cross.”
(snip/...)

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=15408

[MADem]

1. Whatever happened to the traditional venues???

Ya know, the football or soccer field if sunny, the auditorium or gym if raining?

How stupid could these folks be? And no wonder we have to ask the question: Is Our Children Learning? Obviously they aren't, if these are the dunces making the decisions...

I'm stunned that they EVER used the venue, frankly!

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. They do this all the time here in red state hell

Glad to see they are challenging it in CA.

[Pacifist Patriot]

3. I am so delighted to see this.

We just went through this in Melbourne FL. The case went before a judge but he ruled it too late to change venues although he agreed with the merits of the case.

Public school graduations have no business being held in a church.

[booksenkatz]

4. People who are unsure about these things need to stop and ask themselves

"If this were a Satanic house of worship, would I still think it's ok? If this were a painting of Satan instead of Jesus, would I still think it's ok? If this were a 20-ft pentagram instead of a 20-ft cross, would I still think it's ok?"

Since I am an agnostic, hell, it's all the same to me, but the hypocrisy I see in fundies all around me makes me want to retch. And I wouldn't give a damn beyond that mere observation, but you see, they don't want to limit the hypocrisy to their own households, they want to codify into law their personal issues and their personal sicknesses and their funny (to me) little beliefs, and make us all live under that law, contrary to the laws upon which this nation is founded. Therefore, I am forced to give a damn. And I will fight it and resist it at every level.

[Endangered Specie]

5. Thankfully my HS was so big that a church was too small...

to fit us all, and even if they could fit them all in a megachurch or something, they wouldnt(the school population was very diverse)