Enfield Graduations Back On School Grounds

On Monday, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting Enfield’s plans to hold graduation ceremonies at First Cathedral Church in Bloomfield.  She found that the plan would unconstitutionally endorse religion and would be coercive to students and families. First Cathedral is mega-church with large crosses built into the structure. Yesterday, Enfield’s Board of Ed voted not to appeal.  

 

The American Center for Law and Justice has represented the school board. ACLJ Lawyer Vincent McCarthy says he was surprised. "Completely surprised. My understanding all along had been that the board was going to continue to the Second Circuit."

 

McCarthy says the lawsuit is not over. "The only thing that was decided last night was that the school board decided to have the graduation at its own facility.  The case continues. And I’m sure that there will eventually be a trial at which we will ask for a jury." 

 

Tim Jensen is a former editor of the Enfield Press who covered the graduation debate for several years. He says its time for Enfield and Enrico Fermi High Schools to hold graduations back home. "Historically that’s always been the way it was for nearly 40 years at Fermi and even longer than that at Enfield High School." 

 

The lawsuit was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two anonymous students and three parents.