Enfield Must Find Alternate Graduation Site

A Bridgeport federal judge has ruled that Enfield’s Board of Education must find an alternate location for its two high school graduations this year.  The judge found that a plan to hold graduations at First Cathedral Church in Bloomfield is unconstitutional.  

In the decision, Judge Janet Hall finds that by holding public high school graduations in an identifiable church, Enfield Public Schools is endorsing religion. Attempts to cover up some of the religious imagery unconstitutionally entangle public schools with religion. Some of the icons can’t be concealed. And the judge finds that if high school seniors and their parents are required to enter a mega-church in order to participate in graduation ceremonies, they’re being coerced to support religion.  Moreover, the judge ruled that there are alternate locations that compare favorably with the Cathedral.

Enfield held graduation ceremonies at First Cathedral in the past.  Its a large evangelical megachurch with religious iconography including five large Christian crosses.  The American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State brought the suit on behalf of 2 students and three parents. 

Enfield’s School Board argued that holding a ceremony in a church doesn’t make it a religious ceremony.  They plan to appeal the ruling. Graduations for Enfield High School and Enrico Fermi High School are scheduled for June 23rd and 24th. 

For WNPR, I'm Diane Orson.