Group asks feds to revisit Wisconsin church graduations

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A group advocating for the separation of church and state has asked a federal appeals court to overturn a ruling allowing public high schools in Wisconsin to hold graduation ceremonies in a church.

Americans for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit in 2009 objecting to Brookfield Central and Brookfield East’s use of Elmbrook Church for graduations. A federal judge in Milwaukee ruled the ceremonies didn’t violate the separation of church and state because they weren’t religious. A three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision last month.

Americans for Separation of Church and State filed a request Friday asking the full 7th Circuit to hear the case.

The schools’ attorney declined to comment.