Skip to main content

School District Sued over 'Illegal' Nativity Scene

CBN

Share This article

A school district in Indiana is being sued over a live nativity scene performed by high school students, which has been part of the annual Christmas celebration for decades.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit in federal court against Concord Community Schools on behalf of a student and his father, the Elkhart Truth reports. 

”The Nativity scene and the story of the birth of Jesus are, of course, well-recognized symbols of the Christian faith,” the complaint states. “Their presence at the Christmas Spectacular is coercive, represents an endorsement of religion by the high school and the school corporation, has no secular purpose and has the principal purpose and effect of advancing religion.”

Attorney Sam Grover with the Freedom from Religion Foundation says the live Nativity scene is “illegal.”

“It is illegal for a public school to endorse a religion to students by organizing a religious performance, such as acting out the exclusively Christian legend of Jesus’ birth,” Grover wrote. “The performance has a clearly devotional message and thus would be appropriate in a church setting, but not in a public school.”

According to the report, the Christmas Spectacular is, for the most part, secular, with the live Nativity scene, which lasts about 15 minutes, ending the performance.

Share This article