Judge Upholds Renting School Space For Sunday Church Services

A federal judge has ruled that New York City must allow religious groups to rent space for their meetings in public schools after classes and on weekends. On Wednesday, Federal District Judge Loretta A. Preska made permanent a preliminary order that she had issued in July 2002. (See related prior posting.) In The Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28138 (SDNY, Nov. 16, 2005), she finds no Establishment Clause problem withThe Bronx Household of Faith meeting for worship for four hours every Sunday at Bronx Public School 15. Reporting on the decision, today's New York Times said that Judge Preska found that the Christian group, besides its religious services, was also engaged in community activities such as singing and socializing, so barring it from the public school building on Sundays would violate its right to free expression.