Before a federal judge could rule on the case of whether all graduates of two Connecticut public schools should be forced to march under the Christian cross into a Jesus be-decked sanctuary to get their diplomas, she first visited the church.

According to Associated Press, U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall found First Cathedral, a non-denominational megachurch First Cathedral, so "overwrought with religious symbols," including large crosses on the building's roof, over the main entrance and behind an indoor stage, that it could be viewed as ...

"coercing students to enter a church and 'support or participate in religion' but can also be viewed as coercing the violation of one's own religious beliefs.

In her ruling issued Monday, which concluded that the graduations must be moved to avoid an unconstitutional endorsement of religion, she wrote:

A reasonable observer attending the 2010 Enfield graduations would perceive the message that Enfield endorsed the readily perceptible religious views of First Cathedral based upon the character of that forum which Enfield schools selected.

Five schools had originally used the church, built expressly to reach out in evangelism by inviting public events at its massive facilities, according the church's web site. After complaints, three schools moved to secular locations and the Enfield schools were about to do the same this year.

However, a Christian legal group, American Center for Law and Justice stepped up to say it would defend the District in case of any challenges to using the church again. Sure enough, a challenge came from two students and three parents, brought to court by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union.

According to the Associated Press, an agnostic student and the student's parent...

complained of being deprived of a "once in a lifetime" chance to celebrate graduation if the student skipped the ceremony or being "forced to submit to a religious environment that ... will make me feel extremely uncomfortable and offended" if the student attended.

Is this settled? Hardly.

A lawyer for the American Center for Law and Justice, told Associated press he will seek an expedited appeal at the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.

And besides, the school says it will cover up the religious symbolism.

That would be quite a feat. This is a huge, dove-shaped building with a lobby fountain shaped like Jesus' tomb, with multi-story cross-emblazoned stained glass window.

It would seem to me that Christians, particularly First Cathedral members, who are proud of their faith would find it offensive to be required to roll up the banners and shroud their crosses. Why not be proudly faithful as the job of the church is to invite people to know the Lord as they believe they know him?

The conflict comes with inviting public events into this arena. The judge finds it's not the right place for a public school.