ELKHART, Ind. — A federal appeals court panel has concluded that a revised version of an Indiana public high school’s annual holiday show that included a mannequin Nativity scene doesn’t violate the U.S. Constitution.
The Goshen News reports that Concord High School came under scrutiny after the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit alleging the 2015 Concord Christmas Spectacular violated the First Amendment’s prohibition on government establishment of religion.
The three-judge panel in Chicago issued their review of the show on Wednesday. It says the show wouldn’t lead reasonable observers to feel the school is “signing off on a particular religious message” because the Nativity scene “has become just another visual complement for a single song.”
The judges’ ruling says the show may go on in its current state.
