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Live-action school nativity show must go on – with mannequins, court rules | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A high school in northern Indiana has been forced to use mannequins instead of student actors for a nativity scene, after a federal judge banned a live display that has been performed for decades. | A high school in northern Indiana has been forced to use mannequins instead of student actors for a nativity scene, after a federal judge banned a live display that has been performed for decades. |
Related: 'Good without God': Nebraska atheists take over nativity to promote tolerance | Related: 'Good without God': Nebraska atheists take over nativity to promote tolerance |
There was applause and cheering at Concord high school on Saturday when the curtain rose to reveal a static nativity scene. The Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union sued the district on behalf of a Concord high school student and his father, arguing that a nativity scene conveyed an endorsement of religion. | There was applause and cheering at Concord high school on Saturday when the curtain rose to reveal a static nativity scene. The Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union sued the district on behalf of a Concord high school student and his father, arguing that a nativity scene conveyed an endorsement of religion. |
US district judge Jon DeGuilio issued a preliminary injunction to stop this year’s live scene, ruling that “the living nativity scene impermissibly conveys an endorsement of religion and thus runs afoul of the establishment clause”. | US district judge Jon DeGuilio issued a preliminary injunction to stop this year’s live scene, ruling that “the living nativity scene impermissibly conveys an endorsement of religion and thus runs afoul of the establishment clause”. |
School officials say the injunction only applied to a live scene and that they complied with the judge’s order. | School officials say the injunction only applied to a live scene and that they complied with the judge’s order. |
“The injunction is a preliminary ruling and applies only to this year’s Christmas Spectacular performance,” Concord Community Schools superintendent John Trout said in a statement. | “The injunction is a preliminary ruling and applies only to this year’s Christmas Spectacular performance,” Concord Community Schools superintendent John Trout said in a statement. |
“For 2015, the court ordered that the school not present a live nativity scene. That is, live performers cannot perform the nativity scene in this year’s Spectacular, and Concord Community Schools will comply with that order.” | “For 2015, the court ordered that the school not present a live nativity scene. That is, live performers cannot perform the nativity scene in this year’s Spectacular, and Concord Community Schools will comply with that order.” |
The school district in Elkhart, about 15 miles east of South Bend, has about 5,300 students. The show was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. | The school district in Elkhart, about 15 miles east of South Bend, has about 5,300 students. The show was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. |
The ACLU and the foundation did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent on Sunday morning. | The ACLU and the foundation did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent on Sunday morning. |
This year’s show also included performances of songs such as White Christmas, a Hanukkah song and a traditional African song for Kwanzaa. | This year’s show also included performances of songs such as White Christmas, a Hanukkah song and a traditional African song for Kwanzaa. |
The case is to go to court on 7 January. | The case is to go to court on 7 January. |
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