Manchester, USA - An appeals court has reversed a federal judge's order that religious displays be removed from a Connecticut store that offers postal services.
In a decision released Thursday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says Sincerely Yours Inc. in Manchester is not a classified post office and doesn't need to be regulated like one.
The business is a contract postal unit operated by the Full Gospel Interdenominational Church.
The court says only the postal counter, boxes and shelving units must be cleared of religious material. The court says "a visual cue" should distinguish the postal facility from the ministry space.
In 2003, a customer sued the U.S. Postal Service and the local postmaster. The customer claimed the religious signs, prayer cards and church-related videos constituted a government endorsement of religion.