Doe v. Elmbrook Sch. Dist., No. 10-2922 (7th Cir. 2011)
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Plaintiffs alleged that the school district practice of holding high school graduation ceremonies and related events at a Christian church rented for the occasion violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and sought preliminary and permanent injunctions, a declaratory judgment and damages. After the district court entered summary judgment in favor of the district. The Seventh Circuit affirmed. Use of the rented church space was neither impermissibly coercive nor an endorsement of religion on the part of the district. The Establishment Clause does not shield citizens from encountering the beliefs or symbols of any faith to which they do not subscribe and plaintiffs offered no evidence that the district has in any way associated itself with the symbols or with the beliefs expressed by the Church or that any of the religious messages, such as materials in the pews, were placed there especially for graduations rather than being standard fare for Church activities.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on July 23, 2012.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on July 26, 2012.
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