C00035: Complaint of School Event Held at Church

Citizens Oversight (2011-02-15) Raymond Lutz

This Page: https://copswiki.org/Common/M1140
Media Link: https://copswiki.org/w/pub/Common/M1140/C00035-2011-02-15-ComplaintOfSchoolEventHeldAtChurch.pdf
More Info: Church State Separation, Grossmont Union High School District

See also:

• The invitation on the GUHSD website: http://www.copswiki.org/Common/M1139
• Response by Superintendent to La Mesa Patch: http://www.copswiki.org/Common/M1142
• "Polling Places can Affect Elections": http://www.copswiki.org/Common/PollingPlacesCanAffectElections
• "Polling site may sway your vote." http://www.copswiki.org/Common/M1137
• "Kansas Pastor David Jenkins Stood Up To Improper Fundamentalist Proselytizing In Schools – And You Should Too" http://www.copswiki.org/Common/M1138

• C00035-2011-02-15-ComplaintOfSchoolEventHeldAtChurch.pdf: C00035 2011-02-15 Complaint of School Event Held at Church

I've reported this to Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (http://www.AU.org/) Here is what they say the courts have held in this matter: (See http://www.au.org/issues/faqs.html?issue_category=religion-in-public-schools)

A public school may hold school activities in a religious building, if at all, only if the venue is effectively secularized so as not to associate the school with religion. That generally means that religious iconography (e.g., religious artwork or symbols) and texts must be covered or removed. Furthermore, at least one federal court has concluded that it is always unconstitutional for a public high school to hold its graduation ceremony in a church, even if there is no visible iconography. Any constitutional violations will be compounded if there is a suitable secular location where the event could have been held instead.

If your public school has selected a religious venue for a school-sponsored event, ask the school to find a secular location, or contact Americans United. If your school is planning to host an event, or has hosted a past, recurring event, in a house of worship, please provide any information you have about that event, including:

1. What type of event is it? 2. Where and when will the event be held? 3. Are there alternate secular venues in the area that could accommodate the audience? 4. If it is a recurring event (such as an annual assembly), please provide a detailed description of the venue, as well as pictures or videos from past events if you have them.