ACLU seeks removal of Ohio school's Jesus portrait

JACKSON, Ohio (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union and another group are asking a federal judge to make a southern Ohio middle school take down its portrait of Jesus.

The ACLU of Ohio and the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation contend the large portrait hanging in a public school violates constitutional requirement for separation of church and state, and promotes a single religion.

Their lawsuit was filed Thursday in U.S. district court following complaints by both groups to Jackson City Schools.

A message for comment was left Thursday at the school district, some 65 miles south of Columbus.

School officials had said earlier that the portrait, at the Jackson Middle School building since 1947, has historical importance and that they planned to leave it in place.