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Birth of Jesus Questioned by New York School System
Susan Jones
Morning Editor
(CNSNews.com) - A conservative public interest law firm accuses New York City public schools of promoting the Jewish and Islamic faiths, while squelching Christianity.
According to the Thomas More Law Center, the New York City school system recently filed legal briefs disputing the notion that a Christmas Nativity scene, depicting the birth of Jesus, is a historical event.
New York City does not allow Christmas Nativity scenes on its property because it considers them religious in nature. The law center filed a federal lawsuit last year, seeking to restrain the city from enforcing its ban on Nativity scenes.
According to the Thomas More Law Center, New York City schools do not allow Christmas Nativity scenes, but they do encourage the display of the Jewish Menorah during Hanukkah and the Islamic star and crescent during Ramadan.
A federal judge in Brooklyn is expected to hear oral arguments in the case on Thursday, Nov. 13.
As part of its case, the law center noted that one New York City public school principal issued a memo encouraging teachers to bring "religious symbols" representing Islamic and Jewish religions to school, but the memo didn't mention Christianity.
When a mother wrote to her son's teacher to complain about the exclusion of Christianity, the teacher sent the mother a copy of the school's "Holiday Displays" policy, the law center said.
The federal civil rights lawsuit was filed on behalf of Andrea Skoros and her two children, who attend one of New York City's public elementary schools. The defendants include the city of New York and several school officials.
Robert Muise, the Thomas More Law Center attorney handling the case, said the lawsuit will decide whether public school officials can enforce a policy that shows preference for Judaism and Islam, but disfavors Christianity.
"Can Christianity be erased from a public school? Can 'Christ' be removed from Christmas? We will soon find out," Muise said in a press release.
Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center, called New York City's policy an attempt to "de-Christianize Christmas and redefine our nation's religious heritage."
According to the Thomas More Law Center, the New York City school system recently filed legal briefs disputing the notion that a Christmas Nativity scene, depicting the birth of Jesus, is a historical event.
New York City does not allow Christmas Nativity scenes on its property because it considers them religious in nature. The law center filed a federal lawsuit last year, seeking to restrain the city from enforcing its ban on Nativity scenes.
According to the Thomas More Law Center, New York City schools do not allow Christmas Nativity scenes, but they do encourage the display of the Jewish Menorah during Hanukkah and the Islamic star and crescent during Ramadan.
A federal judge in Brooklyn is expected to hear oral arguments in the case on Thursday, Nov. 13.
As part of its case, the law center noted that one New York City public school principal issued a memo encouraging teachers to bring "religious symbols" representing Islamic and Jewish religions to school, but the memo didn't mention Christianity.
When a mother wrote to her son's teacher to complain about the exclusion of Christianity, the teacher sent the mother a copy of the school's "Holiday Displays" policy, the law center said.
The federal civil rights lawsuit was filed on behalf of Andrea Skoros and her two children, who attend one of New York City's public elementary schools. The defendants include the city of New York and several school officials.
Robert Muise, the Thomas More Law Center attorney handling the case, said the lawsuit will decide whether public school officials can enforce a policy that shows preference for Judaism and Islam, but disfavors Christianity.
"Can Christianity be erased from a public school? Can 'Christ' be removed from Christmas? We will soon find out," Muise said in a press release.
Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center, called New York City's policy an attempt to "de-Christianize Christmas and redefine our nation's religious heritage."
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