CT Blue

An obviously communistic, fascist, socialist (and, by way of a bonus-godless) organization has invaded our fair state to try to impose its will on our citizenry. I speak of the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, an organization whose very name tells you all you need to know about its pernicious objectives.

Seems that these United Americans, along with some subversive citizens of Enfield, don’t like the fact that their town is plunking down good money to rent a church to hold high school graduation exercises, and they’ve written a letter to the Board of Ed threatening suit:

Since 2007 in the case of Enrico Fermi High School, and 2008 in the case of Enfield High School, the Enfield Public Schools have held their high-school graduations in a house of worship, the First Cathedral. As you may have surmised from the nature of our recent FOIA request, we have been retained to file litigation on behalf of Enfield Schools students and parents to stop the Schools’ use of the Cathedral, for such use violates the U.S. Constitution and the rights of religious minorities. But we hope that the information conveyed below will obviate the need for a lawsuit by convincing the Schools to voluntarily abandon the practice. We understand that four of the nine members of the Enfield Board of Education are newly elected and are taking office this month. We also understand that when the Board first approved using the Cathedral for graduations, it was told that the religious items in the Cathedral would be covered for graduations. In fact, this never occurred; indeed, as we explain below, religious symbolism is inherent in virtually every aspect of the Cathedral, and so secularizing the facility for school events would not appear to be possible.

As Enfield High School and Enrico Fermi High School students and family members approach the First Cathedral to attend their high-school graduation ceremonies, they view no less than five large Christian crosses that compose the front facade of the building, as well as another cross that towers over the Cathedral’s roof. To enter the Cathedral, they pass under the immense cross in the middle of the facade. They then see in the Cathedral’s lobby a fountain in the shape of a cross surrounded by a frame in the shape of a tomb — which together represent the life after death of Jesus Christ. Above them, from the ceiling of the lobby, hangs a large glass sculpture, representing the Holy Ghost descending from the heavens. Numerous religious paintings, including depictions of Jesus, also hang in the lobby. And before entering the Cathedral’s sanctuary, where the graduation ceremonies take place, students and parents pass underneath large banners reading: “The Promise is Still Good! For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘yes’ in Christ. –2 Cor. 1:20a”; and “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless his Name. Psalms 100:4.”

The letter goes on to detail numerous other trivial architectural and design embellishments that make glancing reference to religion, such as, well, such as the fact that there doesn’t seem to be a single inch of the place that doesn’t have some religious symbol or exhortation embedded in it.

What’s the harm? What offense could any of this give to a good Christian (let us put aside the objections of those who dislike ghastly architecture and religious kitsch), and as to anyone who’s not a good Christian-who cares about them? Certainly not the Enfield Board of Education.

Unfortunately, the forces of godless atheism appear to be winning the war even before the battle is joined. What has happened to our children?

In addition, Enfield High has been using the Cathedral in the face of overwhelming opposition by the high-school’s students. Approximately seventy-five percent of the school’s 2008 graduating class and approximately ninety percent of the Class of 2009 voted against graduating at the Cathedral. And although a majority of Enrico Fermi High School students have voted in favor of using the Cathedral, a significant percentage of the students there also have opposed the venue.

There must be something in the water over there at Fermi. Maybe it’s holy water.

Shame on AU and its fellow travelers for trying to impose the First Amendment on the Enfield Board of Education. It’s almost enough to make me think about withholding my dues this year.