Public school students banned from performing at the Christmas Festival to save school from legal case

Two unnamed families filed complaints with an atheist organization regarding the public schools' student participation in a longtime tradition. While the choral festival has been there for years, authorities decided to ban a number of public schools in Portland from attending to avoid costly court trials.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Having public school students perform at Grotto's Christmas Festival of Lights is a violation of the First Amendment, explained Freedom From Religion Foundation. The atheist group sent a letter regarding the filed complaints of the Portland Public Schools participation of Lane Middle School and Grant, Wilson, Lincoln and Cleveland High Schools choral groups at the annual "Christianity promoting activity."

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"Just because it's a tradition doesn't mean its [sic] legal. Whole generations of students in Portland are being sent the message that it's fine for public schools to promote Catholic events," said Gaylor, noting she doesn't know if the foundation received any complaint regarding other districts' participation in the festival at The Grotto.

An online petition was created, asking the district to revoke its ban, as the festival promotes performance opportunities and is an annual tradition, according to the Oregonian. More than two thousand people have signed the petition.

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