Crucifixes on Schools Questioned

Officials with the Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (CLUM) said yesterday that they are investigating whether a lease agreement between the Cambridge Public School District and the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston breaches laws mandating the separation of church and state.

The city currently leases three abandoned church schools for use as temporary classrooms. But some city residents have objected to the use of two of the buildings, because large crucifixes erected atop their roofs remain in place.

CLUM attorneys believe the religious symbols may violate the First Amendment and the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, according to John Reinstein, the group's legal director.

"We are pursuing an investigation into all aspects of the use of church buildings as temporary sites of the Cambridge public schools," Reinstein said in an interview with The Crimson.

About 540 students are attending the temporary school sites at Notre Dame de Pity Church in North Cambridge and the Patronage of St. Joseph in Union Square, said James R. Ball, public relations agent for the Cambridge school district.

The district is using the sites while it awaits the September 1995 reopening of Agassiz and Haggerty Schools, which were originally built around 1900 and demolished in 1993 because of structural damages, Ball said.

"The Catholic Church is really helping us out," said School Committee member Alfred B. Fantini. "If not for their facilities, we'd have no place to put our children."

According to Fantini, the former Catholic school sites were chosen after a public bidding process. The archdiocese offered the lowest rental fees, and best fulfilled the district's needs, he said.

"There are not many options open to us without them," Ball said. "We would be forced to split up children, use split shifts or purchase portable classrooms."

Father Richard J. Brady, pastor of St. Joseph's, said the archdiocese has shown sensitivity by removing all religious icons and inscriptions from the building's interior.

"[B]ut we're certainly not going to knock down a cross that's been there since the place was built," Brady said.

Francis S. Cohen, general counsel to the CLUM,said the crucifix amounts to an unconstitutionalendorsement of religion by the school district.

"It would make certain students feel likeoutsiders," Cohen said. "It needs to be lookedinto."

Reinstein said his office has been contacted byconcerned parents of several children attendingthe schools.

Eric T. Chester, a 51-year-old Arlingtonresident whose son Jeffrey, 12, attends thetemporary school at St. Joseph's, said the schooldistrict and the city of Cambridge have"Repeatedly" been insensitive to non-Christians.

Chester said he has asked Eva Paddock, theschool's principal, to consider removing thecrucifix, but that Paddock has offered noresponse.

"They try to stonewall you," Chester said. "Tome, the city does not take this issue seriously."

Paddock was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Fantini said that the school district'senrollment policy allows parents to transfer theirchildren to other schools within the city withease.

"The transfer applies to any problems, not justthis case," he said.

School Committee member Henrietta A. Davis saidthe district would attempt to be more sensitive toany complaints.

"I could certainly see how people would beoffended," Davis said. "I'm open to suggestionshow to deal with this."

Ball said he hoped the issue will become mootwith the opening of the new Agassiz and HaggertySchools this fall.

Chester said. however, that he may pursue theissue even after the district vacates the tworeligious schools.

Cambridge Library Tablets

"This seems to be a part of a pattern inCambridge of disregard...of the separation ofchurch and state," said Chester, a self-proclaimedatheist.

Earlier this week, Chester threatended to suethe city if it did not remove a collection oftablets in the Cambridge Public Library whichincluded the Ten Commandments, several proverbsand writings by St. Paul the Apostle.

The writings are a permanent part of thelibrary, which was built and donated to the cityby Frederick Hastings Rindge in 1889 on thecondition that the tablets be "maintained foreverin the same position or...some equally public andconspicuous position," according to the building'sdeed.

In response to Chester's protests, libraryofficials have posted a disclaimer next to theexhibit which says that the city is not endorsingany religious beliefs or attempting to impose anyparticular views upon library patrons.

While Chester has called the disclaimer"unacceptable," Reinstein has said that CLUM willprobably not pursue legal action against the city.

"There are significant mitigating factors inthis instance," Reinstein said

Francis S. Cohen, general counsel to the CLUM,said the crucifix amounts to an unconstitutionalendorsement of religion by the school district.

"It would make certain students feel likeoutsiders," Cohen said. "It needs to be lookedinto."

Reinstein said his office has been contacted byconcerned parents of several children attendingthe schools.

Eric T. Chester, a 51-year-old Arlingtonresident whose son Jeffrey, 12, attends thetemporary school at St. Joseph's, said the schooldistrict and the city of Cambridge have"Repeatedly" been insensitive to non-Christians.

Chester said he has asked Eva Paddock, theschool's principal, to consider removing thecrucifix, but that Paddock has offered noresponse.

"They try to stonewall you," Chester said. "Tome, the city does not take this issue seriously."

Paddock was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Fantini said that the school district'senrollment policy allows parents to transfer theirchildren to other schools within the city withease.

"The transfer applies to any problems, not justthis case," he said.

School Committee member Henrietta A. Davis saidthe district would attempt to be more sensitive toany complaints.

"I could certainly see how people would beoffended," Davis said. "I'm open to suggestionshow to deal with this."

Ball said he hoped the issue will become mootwith the opening of the new Agassiz and HaggertySchools this fall.

Chester said. however, that he may pursue theissue even after the district vacates the tworeligious schools.

Cambridge Library Tablets

"This seems to be a part of a pattern inCambridge of disregard...of the separation ofchurch and state," said Chester, a self-proclaimedatheist.

Earlier this week, Chester threatended to suethe city if it did not remove a collection oftablets in the Cambridge Public Library whichincluded the Ten Commandments, several proverbsand writings by St. Paul the Apostle.

The writings are a permanent part of thelibrary, which was built and donated to the cityby Frederick Hastings Rindge in 1889 on thecondition that the tablets be "maintained foreverin the same position or...some equally public andconspicuous position," according to the building'sdeed.

In response to Chester's protests, libraryofficials have posted a disclaimer next to theexhibit which says that the city is not endorsingany religious beliefs or attempting to impose anyparticular views upon library patrons.

While Chester has called the disclaimer"unacceptable," Reinstein has said that CLUM willprobably not pursue legal action against the city.

"There are significant mitigating factors inthis instance," Reinstein said