My own backyard.

[Pacifist Patriot]

http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7381&news_iv_ctrl=1241&abbr=pr

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today asked a federal court in Florida to block public high school graduation ceremonies from occurring in a church sanctuary that features a 25-foot cross. In a lawsuit filed this morning in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Americans United asked the court to declare planned high school graduation ceremonies at a Melbourne mega-church a violation of the First Amendment and order them moved to a neutral location. At a minimum, says the AU complaint, the court should order Brevard County school officials to have the church's religious symbols covered during those public school ceremonies....

Mega-church does not even begin to describe this Evangelical behemoth. They certainly cannot argue that this is the only location in the area with seating capacity. Sorry, but I don't see why the graduation has to be held there at all, but I do think covering religious symbols would be a reasonable accommodation. I know I'm biased, but I wouldn't be surprised if the congregation stood at the doors and passed out tracts as friends and family entered the facility. They are quite aggressive.

[kcass1954]

1. Where is this monstrosity?

My dad lives on the beach in Satellite, and I need to see this for myself next time I'm up there.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Minton Rd. in W. Melbourne

It's a miles or so south of the intersection of Wickham/Minton and 192

http://www.calvarymelbourne.org/

They have to hire a cop to direct traffic on Sunday mornings.

[davidinalameda]

4. they named a street after me in Melbourne?

:thumbsup:

[TheMightyFavog]

3. Here's the sattelite photo...

My god's a church that size does not come to mind when I hear the word "chapel"

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. No Kidding.

Their website has not only a map to the church, but a map OF the church. They are just down the street from my wee little UU congregation. It is humbling to say the least.

By the way, they lost. The graduation will be held there and the church will not be required to cover the cross.

[Maat]

6. Great.

What is you are a UU student, a Religious Science student, a Jewish student, or a Muslim student?

Boy, there would be heck to pay if my kid were graduating!

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. I was impressed with one parent when I read the paper this morning.

After the graduation he was quoted as saying, "the father of graduate ____, said the site didn't bother him,. 'But if it was a mosque, I don't know how I might feel. I guess it is imposing your Christian beliefs on others.'"

Hey, you think that might be one way of looking at it? What if the kids had been graduating in a super-mosque with a 25 foot crescent above the podium. Or a synagogue with a star of David. Some people just don't seem to be able to see things from another point of view.

[Maat]

8. Exactly!

[johnnomac]

9. Maybe not illegal.... definitely weird though

I think I would feel pretty awkward having a school ceremony in the sanctuary of a church. Even if the symbols and such were covered. I had an exam in a church basement about a week ago, and even though there were no religious symbols at all, I still felt a little strange. Not pressured, because I occasionally go to church events there, but it was still weird.

[Maat]

10. I'm guessing this is technically unconstitutional.

But no one will volunteer to be plaintiff, and now the case is moot (the graduation happened - and good luck at proving damage).

It would really make me feel uncomfortable.

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. The judge thought so but said they ran out of time. Here's my LTTE

"I read accounts of Jennifer Musgrove's graduation experience with dismay. She was greeted with boos and jeers rather than applause appropriate to her accomplishments. According to a Florida Today report, "a group of adults on the lower level stood and blew whistles as she strode across the stage, protesting her actions." Jennifer's crime was participating in a legal action, in which it should be noted, the presiding judge agreed.

Adults could not bring themselves to respect her rights and courage but instead chose to behave disrespectfully to her, our judicial process and the basic rights we enjoy as Americans. It doesn't take much creativity to imagine the outrage if the only available indoor facility had been a temple or a mosque with a 25 foot Star of David or a Crescent emblazoned behind the graduate's heads as they received their diplomas from a government institution.

Shame on the audience for behaving so abominably and shame on Calvary Chapel so arrogantly refusing to simply drape their religious symbol out of respect for the beliefs of others."

Rev. _______

I have no idea if they'll bother with publishing it though.

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. Oh and here is what the student was treated to...

Palm Bay: Student at center of controversy is booed

BY RICK NEALE
FLORIDA TODAY

WEST MELBOURNE - Some spectators booed and others blew whistles when Palm Bay High School senior Jennifer Musgrove walked across the graduation stage Saturday morning.

Musgrove, 18, her father, David, and Dianne Narciso, the mother of a Palm Bay freshman, sued the Brevard County School District this week, ....

Judge Gregory Presnell denied that request Wednesday, and all four commencements went as planned, including Saturday's Palm Bay ceremony.

When Musgrove's name was called during conferring of diplomas, the crowd of more than 3,000 responded with boos and smatterings of applause. A group of adults on the lower level stood and blew whistles as she strode across the stage, protesting her actions.


.....During Wednesday's court hearing in Orlando, Presnell sided with the Musgroves and Narciso, saying the commencement site probably violated the Constitution. However, he decided a last-minute venue change would be too disruptive.

[johnnomac]

13. Nothing surprises me anymore

"A group of adults on the lower level stood and blew whistles as she strode across the stage, protesting her actions."

You know, I used to think it was impossible to be both scum and dregs at the same time....