Jesus Costume Banned
Feb. 23rd 2007- Update below.
The family of a 10 year old is suing a school system in the Philadelphia suburbs after the child was not allowed to wear a Jesus costume to a school Halloween party. Other students were allowed to wear devil costumes and witch costumes, but this child's fake crown of thorns were unacceptable and he was told to say he was a Roman Emperor. The principal of the school was enforcing the district's prohibition against the promotion of religion. This situation seems to be another case of us taking our eyes off our own Constitution.
Our Constitution guarantees our right to religious expression. By telling this child not to dress as Jesus, his right to express his religion was taken away, a right he should not lose by going to school. Had he been told he could wear the costume as long as he did not proselytize, I would not have a problem. But to ban the costume and tell the student he could not talk about the costume went too far.
The school and its staff are the ones who are prohibited from promoting religion due to the so called separation of church and state. Students should be allowed to speak their minds as long as they can do so within community standards of decency. I say the Jesus costume should be allowed just as I suspect the school would allow a girl to wear a burqa.
When did religious expression become a bad thing? What are we afraid of? Do we fear some kids might learn to love their neighbors because they saw a Jesus costume?
(For more see news report on 6abc.com.)
Update-The Superintendent of the Abington school system has posted a copy of a letter which was sent to parents on the system's web site. In the letter she says the facts are being misreported. (See contents of the letter here.)
Independent Conservative linked with "Child Banned From Putting a Jesus Costume into a Pagan Holiday Celebration. His Expression Against Paganism was Denied."
The family of a 10 year old is suing a school system in the Philadelphia suburbs after the child was not allowed to wear a Jesus costume to a school Halloween party. Other students were allowed to wear devil costumes and witch costumes, but this child's fake crown of thorns were unacceptable and he was told to say he was a Roman Emperor. The principal of the school was enforcing the district's prohibition against the promotion of religion. This situation seems to be another case of us taking our eyes off our own Constitution.
Our Constitution guarantees our right to religious expression. By telling this child not to dress as Jesus, his right to express his religion was taken away, a right he should not lose by going to school. Had he been told he could wear the costume as long as he did not proselytize, I would not have a problem. But to ban the costume and tell the student he could not talk about the costume went too far.
The school and its staff are the ones who are prohibited from promoting religion due to the so called separation of church and state. Students should be allowed to speak their minds as long as they can do so within community standards of decency. I say the Jesus costume should be allowed just as I suspect the school would allow a girl to wear a burqa.
When did religious expression become a bad thing? What are we afraid of? Do we fear some kids might learn to love their neighbors because they saw a Jesus costume?
(For more see news report on 6abc.com.)
Update-The Superintendent of the Abington school system has posted a copy of a letter which was sent to parents on the system's web site. In the letter she says the facts are being misreported. (See contents of the letter here.)
Independent Conservative linked with "Child Banned From Putting a Jesus Costume into a Pagan Holiday Celebration. His Expression Against Paganism was Denied."
Labels: culture, culture wars
posted by Dennis | 7:42 AM
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