A federal judge said yesterday the Board of Education must allow a Bronx religious group to rent space in a public school for meetings that include worship.
Manhattan Federal Court Judge Loretta Preska's decision comes on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court decision issued last year in a similar case.
The Bronx Household of Faith sued to keep the board from denying its application for space in Middle School 206 as it had in 1994.
The board said at that time that it was against policy to let religious groups use public school buildings for worship. Bronx Household argued the policy violated free speech.
The church revived its application after the Supreme Court last year forced the upstate Milford School District to let a religious club meet on school premises there.
Bronx Household's Sunday meetings at MS 206 would include Christian hymns, prayer, preaching, teaching, Communion and socializing, according to court papers.
Preska cited the Supreme Court's finding that religious clubs could use public school buildings as long as they aren't used solely for "mere religious worship."
City lawyers said they are reviewing their options regarding the case.
"Because religious services are different from any other activity that takes place in the schools, in our view, excluding them does not violate the First Amendment," said Assistant Corporation Counsel Lisa Grumet.