Author:
Publication: news@thomasmore.org
Date: December 10, 2002
New York City Schools Sued In Federal
Court Over Policy Discriminating Against Christians During Christmas Season
The Thomas More Law Center has filed
a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of New York, the Chancellor
of the New York City Department of Education, and another school official,
alleging that the City's policy regarding "Holiday Displays" unlawfully
discriminates against Christians. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Andrea
Skoros and her two children, elementary school students in the New York
City public school system.
At issue is a school policy promulgated
by the Chancellor's office that prohibits the display of Nativity scenes
in the City's schools during the Christmas season, but expressly permits
and encourages these schools to display during certain religious holidays
and seasonal observances the Jewish Menorah and the Islamic Star and Crescent.
City officials claim that the goal of this policy is "to promote understanding
and respect for the diverse beliefs and customs relating to our community's
observance of the winter holiday." Ms. Skoros and her children are devout
Roman Catholics, and they object to this policy because it endorses and
promotes the Jewish and Muslim faiths and conveys the impermissible message
of disapproval of Christianity.
Last year, pursuant to this policy,
several New York City public schools, including one of the schools attended
by Ms. Skoros' son, displayed the Jewish Menorah and the Islamic Star and
Crescent, but not the Nativity scene. In fact, one public school principal
issued a memo pursuant to the "Holiday Displays" policy encouraging teachers
to bring to school "religious symbols" that represent the Islamic and Jewish
religions. No mention of Christianity was made in this memo. Catholic League
president William Donohue made several attempts to get school officials
to change their discriminatory policy, with no success. School officials
dismissed requests to display the Nativity scene and instead would only
allow Christmas trees. However, the Christmas tree is a secular symbol
and not the equivalent of the religious symbols allowed for Jews and Muslims.
According to Richard Thompson, Chief
Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, "The policy relegates Christians
to second class citizens. Forcing schools to only allow secular symbols
for Christmas while allowing religious symbols for other religions' holiday
observances shows a callous indifference and hostility toward Christians
during one of their holiest seasons. It is ironic that a religion enjoying
the largest following in this nation is consigned by the City of New York
to a least-favored status. It's a shame that we have reached a point in
our Nation's history that 'respect for diverse beliefs and customs' has
come to mean discrimination against Christians at Christmas time no less."
This year, New York City public
schools are at it again. Pursuant to the City's policy, prominent displays
of the Jewish Menorah abound, with no Christian Nativity scenes to be found.
According to the lawsuit, the City's policy violates the Establishment
and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment, as well as Ms. Skoros'
constitutional right as a parent to direct the religious education of her
children.
