Is using public schools for Sunday religious service...

[Lost-in-FL]

a Separation of Church and State violation?

I just find out that the Church one of my coworkers goes to, has a Sunday service in a public High School!!!! Is this even legal??

[cosmik debris]

1. Is the church renting the facility? n/t

[Warpy]

2. Not if they rent the space and kids who go to the school

aren't required to attend.

I also don't care about private seasonal decorations on town land as long as they are privately paid for and they repair any damage when the season is over.

What I do object to is using government money to proselytize. Ever.

[skepticscott]

3. I suppose it depends

If the church pays the school district a fair price for renting the space, and if they don't use school property or facilities to proselytize to non-members outside of that time, then it probably isn't. If the school is letting them use space (and light and heat) for free, probably not, unless they let any other group that wants to do the same.

[Lost-in-FL]

4. Are they renting the school for their services? I don't know.

But I would love to know. I just found out about this by accident. My co-worker left a pamphlet (he is trying to get me to go to that church thinking I am his little project) and I noticed the services are a in the local High School. All I can say is that this did not set well with me.

[cosmik debris]

5. Start the investigation with a School Board Member

Or the office of the School Superintendent.

Or you might find out if an investigative reporter in the neighborhood wants to pick up the story.

If the church is getting a sweetheart deal, that's news!

[moggie]

6. Enquire about hiring the school for atheist meetings

Or a Koran study group, or something GLBT-related. If the school is genuinely neutral about whoring hiring out their facilities, they should be happy with any of those for the same fee (if any) as the Christians. If not, I'd say they're endorsing Christian worship, and could face trouble. Though actually pursuing this could land you in a world of hurt, of course.

[funflower]

7. Churches are allowed use of the buildings on an equal footing with non-religious

organizations, such as sports teams.