ACLU Opposes Stamford Catholic School Lease Application

The American Civil Liberties Union of CT has announced it's opposition to a St. Clement's Parish public school leasing application which would make way for a new alternative high school program.

“This contract shows a fundamental disrespect for the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and religion...The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut urges the Stamford Board of Representatives to reject it,” ACLU-CT director Andrew Schneider said in a recent press release.

The St. Clement's Parish application will have it's final vote before Stamford's Board of Representatives at a meeting on Feb. 6, 2012, at the Stamford Government Center. According to the ACLU, the lease will grant "unconstitutional" powers to St. Clements, including the ability to ban sex education on the premises, as well as "speech or action" that contradicts doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.

“Public school students’ education shouldn’t be limited or dictated by any religious institution and public school teachers should never be forced to submit to religious training. Should this blatantly unconstitutional lease be approved, the ACLU of Connecticut stands ready to help any family with a legal challenge in
defense of their children’s constitutional rights,” ACLU-CT legal director Sandra Straub said.

The proposed lease also dictates that the city will pay the St. Clement school's legal fees in the event that they must enforce the terms of the lease.