In Brevard County, Florida, four high schools decided to hold graduation ceremonies in a local mega-church. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State represented the family of one student in a lawsuit asking that the ceremonies either be moved or the religious symbols be covered up. A federal judge ruled that the ceremonies would go forward.

The St. Petersburg Times reports:

U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell refused to stop the ceremonies at Calvary Chapel of Melbourne because the plaintiffs - a student, her Buddhist father and another parent who is an atheist - filed their case too late. Bayside High's graduation is today; commencements for Eau Gallie, Melbourne and Palm Bay high schools are set for the next two days. "I don't necessarily approve of the School Board's decision because it seems clear to me that a secular facility without these religious icons should have been chosen," Presnell said from the bench after a brief hearing Wednesday afternoon.

The lawsuit will proceed, though, to determine whether this can be allowed in the future. The school argues that the graduation ceremony is a "secular purpose," completely ignoring the issues of effect and excessive entanglement. The church refuses to cover over its large cross.

Americans United says:

[T]he judge did indicate that he agreed with Americans United's assertion that Brevard County officials should have scheduled commencements at a neutral location. The judge also ruled that the case, Musgrove v. School Board of Brevard County, would proceed to determine whether the future public high school commencements would be allowed in religious settings.

"We are disappointed that graduating students will have to attend church to receive their diplomas," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "Nonetheless, the judge did side with us on the key constitutional issues involved and said this case will go forward. We must ensure that next year's graduation ceremonies will not be held in a church sanctuary beneath a huge cross," Lynn continued. "These are public school events that should not be conducted in a place where some families feel unwelcome."

Earlier, Americans United said:

"Public school students should not be forced to attend a house of worship in order to receive their diplomas," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "This is a significant moment in these students' lives, and their school officials have decided to wrap the moment in religiosity. By holding these ceremonies in a mega-church festooned with religious symbols, school officials are showing contempt for the Constitution and little regard for the wishes of a number of families.

"It does not have to be this way," Lynn continued. "The school officials should conduct the ceremonies at neutral sites, as they've done on a number of occasions, or church officials should be cooperative and cover the church's religious symbols for these public school events."

Religious people will, naturally, not like the idea of covering over religious symbols — but non-Christians won't necessarily like the idea of having to attend a church in order to participate in the graduation ceremonies of a state school. If the government isn't going to endorse the religious beliefs of the church, then the church has to make some serious compromises — if the compromises are too much, then they need to avoid getting involved with government activities.

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Religion in Public Schools
• Secularism 101