英闻天下——319 School Sued over Portrait of Jesus

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　　The American Civil Liberties Union and its partners contend the portrait is government endorsement² of Christianity.

 

　　School officials say the portrait belongs to the Hi-Y student group and is therefore constitutionally protected "private speech."

 

　　After the suit was filed the school board adopted a new policy allowing a "limited public forum⁴" for student groups to own and display portraits of "inspirational figures."

 

　　Freedom from Religion Foundation co-president Dan Barker says:

 

　　"It boggles the mind that in 2013, a public school superintendent⁵ and school board would not understand that a devotional painting of Jesus, called 'The Head of Christ,' - identical to millions hanging in churches and Sunday school classrooms around the country - may not be posted at the entrance of a middle school,"

 

　　Balls and Strikes on the Columbus Dispatch:

 

　　I am "Christian³ Folk." I don't care what picture you hang up in the hallway. There isn't anyone telling me I have to believe in it. The problem here is the liberal ideology⁶ that if one person doesn't like it then no one else should like it or accept it either. How about they just let it go like they have for the past 66 years and deal with some real issues? Whether you believe in Jesus or not, anyone who finds this offensive needs to get over it and move on. It's not a personal attack on anyone or anyone's beliefs.

 

　　Randy Rasmussen on NPR.org:

 

　　Putting up a picture is NOT an endorsement. Beyond that even an endorsement would NOT be the State pushing a specific religion. Forcing you to pray WOULD be.

 

　　Superintendent Phil Howard said after the school board meeting:

 

　　"We're in a predicament where we have to balance things. We can't make that kind of endorsement (of religion) as a government entity⁷. But we also can't infringe⁸ upon the rights of our student groups and our students."

 

　　Elsinor says on Huffington Post:

 

　　"The board said the portrait is part of a "limited public forum," and that the Jackson schools will allow other student clubs to hang portraits appropriate to their organizations."

 

　　In other words, they are changing the rules after the fact to try to obfuscate⁹ their actual motive¹⁰. This sort of civic¹¹ dishonesty, and make no mistake that's what this is, should have no place in a school setting.

 

　　TheFriendlyAtheist says on Huffington Post:

 

　　The Hi-Y club has no more right than the school to display religious material on public property. This move will get the board no where. The display is a clear violation¹² of the constitutional separation of church and state and should be removed immediately. but true to Christian hubris¹³, the board will fight tooth and nail and waste much time and money before doing what is right.

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