Mobile Menu

Legal Advocacy Victories

Texas high school drops support for church baccalaureate (June 25, 2013)

The Freedom From Religion Foundation successfully petitioned a Texas high school to end its support for the graduation baccalaureates a Catholic Church puts on for their high school students.

A concerned parent of a student at Texas City School in Texas City, Texas, turned to FFRF after the church used the public school's resources and envelopes to send students an invitation to the religious baccalaureate held at the church.

FFRF Staff Attorney Liz Cavell contacted Texas City Independent School District Superintendent Cynthia Lusignolo in a June 5 letter to remind her about the Constitution and separation of state and church.

"Your District's apparent role in promoting baccalaureate services could cause a reasonable Texas City High School graduating senior or parent to conclude the District endorses the religious messages espoused at these services," Cavell wrote.

Lusignolo responded on June 25 that, "In order to follow constitutional dictates Texas City ISD will have no involvement in the mailings in future years."