Family Institute of Connecticut Persuades Enfield Board of Education to Defy ACLU
by Staff
April 19, 2010
MEDIA ADVISORY, (christiansunite.com) -- The Family Institute of Connecticut (FIC), the state's largest and best known pro- life, pro-marriage and family organization, persuaded the Enfield Board of Education this week to defy a legal threat from the ACLU and send graduation ceremonies back to First Cathedral. Enfield's vote capped a two- month effort by FIC to persuade the town to stand up in defense of the First Amendment.FIC executive director Peter Wolfgang stated, "The ACLU is surprised by events in Enfield for two reasons: 1) this was a dead issue until the Family Institute of Connecticut got involved; and 2) the ACLU is an organization that is unaccustomed to being defied. Until Enfield's brave decision this week, the ACLU held free reign in Connecticut -- trampling the rights of students and school boards with legal threats. But FIC fought back. We were the only organization to take up this battle and to put the key parties in touch with one another. We took the time to talk with board members and students and to attend meetings. We reached into the local community, identified allies, put boots on the ground and altered the course of events. FIC showed families and regular citizens that they can stand up to the bullies, that there is help out there."
Thanks to FIC's intervention, the American Center for Law and Justice has offered free legal representation to the Town of Enfield, if the ACLU should carry out its threat to sue the town for holding its high school graduations on church premises. Enfield made its decision based on fiscal -- not constitutional -- issues. Nonetheless, we hope their willingness to defy the ACLU will cause other boards of education to consider returning graduations to First Cathedral in Bloomfield. Enfield has put all of Connecticut on notice that a threatening letter from the ACLU should not be greeted with panic. People can fight back.
The Family Institute of Connecticut is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to creating a family- friendly environment in our state. We are working to encourage and strengthen the family as the foundation of society and to promote sound ethical and moral values in our culture and government. You can learn more about the Family Institute of Connecticut at www.ctfamily.org.
