Enfield To Appeal Graduation Ruling

Lawyers for Enfield Public Schools say they’ll appeal a federal district court decision that prohibits this year’s high school graduation from taking place in a Bloomfield cathedral. 

The judge ruled that the plan by Enfield Public Schools to hold graduations at First Cathedral Church unconstitutionally endorses religion, and is coercive to students and families. First Cathedral is a mega-church with large crosses built into the structure..on the roof, at the main entrance..and behind the stage.

Enfield school board chairman Greg Stokes says he’s disappointed by the decision. "It was simply about having the best place.  It was never for my mind a constitutional argument because we were not including religion into any ceremony. It was basically a secular event that we were holding in this venue"

Vincent McCarthy of the American Center for Law and Justice represents Enfield Public Schools. "We’re filing a motion for stay with the trial court and then we’re filing the motion for emergency expedited appeal at the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals"

The American Civil Liberties Union brought the case on behalf of two anonymous students and three parents. Andrew Schneider, ACLU’s executive director in CT,  says with graduation three weeks away, its time for Enfield to move on. "Its an unnecessary litigation. And there are alternative secular facilities that are comparable in cost, capacity and amenities"

Enfield’s School Board meets later this week   to discuss alternate sites for the graduation ceremonies, which are scheduled for June 23rd and 24th.