Christmas Music Case Is On Appeal in 3rd Circuit

Today's New Jersey Jewish News discusses the pending appeal in the 3rd Circuit of Stratechuk v. Board of Education, South Orange Maplewood School District, in which a New Jersey federal district court upheld a school board's holiday music policy that barred inclusion of religious holiday music in school holiday concerts. (See prior posting.) The Thomas More Law Center filed the appeal, arguing that the ban amounts to hostility toward religion, that it changes Christmas from a religious to a secular holiday and that it deprives students of the right to receive information and ideas. The American Jewish Congress is coordinating an amicus brief supporting the lower court's holding.