Roger Florey, an atheist, filed suit against a local school district's
holiday programs, claiming that singing of religious carols during
Christmas concerts, like "Silent Night" and "O Come All Ye Faithful,"
were a violation of the separation of church and state.
County of Allegheny v. ACLU Greater Pittsburgh Chapter (1989)
The Supreme Court ruled that while a creche display on public property
was unconstitutional, a menorah display on another piece of public
property was not.
Bridenbaugh v. O'Bannon (1993)
According to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, a government is
permitted to give employees a religious holiday off as a paid vacation
day, but only if the government can provide a legitimate secular
purpose for choosing that day instead of any other day.
Clever v. Cherry Hill Township (1993)
How far can a public school go when including religious symbols in
school functions? According to a New Jersey District Court, any
religious symbols can be used, but only so long as they are part of a
legitimate, secular education program.
Capitol Square Review Board v. Pinette (1995)
Supreme Court decision holding that an unattended cross erected by the
KKK on public grounds would not give the impression of government
endorsement and, hence, is not a violation of the separation of church
and state.
Metzl v. Leininger (1995)
Andrea Metzl, an Illinois public school teacher, filed a lawsuit to
prevent the state of Illinois from (among other things) using of
public funds derived from taxes that she paid to pay teachers for the
Good Friday holiday.
Bauchman v. West High School (1997)
Is it a violation of the separation of church and state to make
students sing Christian songs in a public school choir? According to
the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, it isn't a violation - not even if
the teacher involved uses his position to promote his religion.
Ganulin v. United States (1999)
Is it constitutional for the United States government to recognize
Christmas as an official paid holiday? Richard Ganulin, an atheist
lawyer, argued that it isn't and filed suit, but a U.S. District Court
ruled against him.
ACLU v. Schundler (1999)
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals found that a city's crèche and
menorah display was unconstitutional when it did not have any secular
symbols with it, but it became constitutional when enough secular
symbols were added to a new, modified display.
Granzeier v. Middleton (1999)
Can the government take a religious holiday and make an official state
holiday out of it? Is it an establishment of religion when a religious
holy day becomes an official state holiday? Good Friday is a Christian
Holy Day which many Christians would surely like to have off, but does
that mean that governments should grant it official recognition over
and above the holy days of other religions?
Koenick v. Felton (1999)
Judith M. Koenick, a former public school teacher, filed suit against
the Board of Education of Montgomery County, Maryland, challenging the
constitutionality of a Maryland statute providing for public school
holidays on the Friday before Easter through the Monday following.
Sechler v. State College Area School District (2000)
Jarrod Sechler, a "youth pastor" at a local Christian church, filed
suit against the State College Area High School because their holiday
program was insufficiently Christian for him. According to a U.S.
District Court, the presence of non-Christian symbols did not advance
either those religions or express hostility towards Christianity.
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