Directory of Church Social Services Distributed In Schools Is Criticized

Civil libertarians are criticizing a directory of youth groups and programs distributed to students in Greece, New York public schools last week. They say that its Christian focus crosses the church-state line. Today's Rochester (NY) Democrat & Chronicle reports that the directory was produced and funded by local churches and lists mostly programs offered by Christian churches in town. However a few community food pantry, educational and support resources are also included. The directory is signed by the Greece Central School District superintendent, the school board president and a local Baptist pastor who heads a faith committee of the school board that provides input from the faith community. School officials say the directory is merely a resource for parents and young people looking for help, and that they worked with school district attorneys to avoid church-state issues.