Appeals court backs NYC over keeping religious services out of public schools

Appeals court backs NYC over keeping religious services out of public schools

BY SCOTT SHIFREL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, June 2nd 2011, 3:20 PM

Michael Schwartz for News

An appeals court denied an evangelical group's lawsuit to allow religious services inside a Bronx school.

TAKE OUR POLL

Let us pray... or not!

Do you believe in the seperation of church and state?

	Yes, it's important for public schools to remain secular.
	No, religion is important in students' lives.
	Only in a few specific cases.
	I'm not sure.

RELATED NEWS

• Budget cuts hurt sex abuse victim programs
• In urban jungle there's coyotes, deer and bears, oh my!
• Real estate's on a roll! Experts dish on why housing is a hot market again
• Voice of the People for July 28, 2009
• Voice of the People for Nov. 16, 2008
• The State of New York Real Estate

The city can keep religious services out of its schools, an appeals court ruled Thursday.

In a case involving a Bronx school and an evangelical group, a Manhattan court lifted a ban that stopped the city from booting "worship services" out of public schools.

The judges would, however, allow religious groups to teach, pray and conduct other activities.

"It is reasonable for the Board (of Education) to fear ...allowing schools to be converted into churches," the court said in its decision.

"The Board's concern that it would be substantially subsidizing churches if it opened schools for religious worship services is reasonable."

The case stems from a battle between the Bronx Household of Faith's quest to use PS 15 in the University Heights section of

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2011/06/02/2011-06-02_appeals_court_backs_nyc_over_keeping_religious_services_out_of_public_schools.html#ixzz1O9S6QQ9b