Posted on 05/20/2005 8:37:48 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A public school prohibited a second grader from singing a religious song at a talent show, prompting a lawsuit Friday alleging violation of the girl's constitutional rights.
A federal judge declined an emergency request to compel Frenchtown Elementary School to allow 8-year-old Olivia Turton to sing "Awesome God" at the Friday night show, but allowed the lawsuit to go forward.
School officials in the western New Jersey community had said the performance would be inappropriate at a school event. A message seeking comment from a school board attorney about the judge's ruling was not immediately returned.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Trenton to consider the case later came just hours before Olivia had hoped to sing the pop song by the late Rich Mullins.
One verse has these lyrics: "Our God is an awesome God/He reigns from heaven above/with wisdom, pow'r and love/Our God is an awesome God."
The girl was told May 10 that she could not sing the song. Her mother, Maryann Turton, protested at a school board meeting that night. She was told three days later by Joyce Brennan, the school superintendent and principal, that the religious content made it inappropriate at school, according to the lawsuit filed by the child's parents Friday morning.
The lawsuit charges that the school board violated Olivia's constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process.
The lawsuit, supported by the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group based in Scottsdale, Ariz., argues that the constitutional separation of church and state does not restrict an individual's religious speech.
The girl's lawyer, Demetrios K. Stratis, questioned how the Frenchtown school could reject Olivia's choice but allow another act based on the opening scene of "MacBeth."
"They've got a scene about boiling animals and witchcraft, but they won't allow a song about God," Stratis said.
Had the child substituted Allah for God in the song, we would not even be discussing this.
Satan is very busy these days, and he is partial to Allah.
This is mongo silly. It was to be a solo performance in a show which she could either choose or decline to participate; and nobody in the school set her up to choose this song, endorse it over any other song, or even coach her in singing it. I suppose if it had an accompaniment track, she could have even brought her own ghetto blaster to play it on instead of doing it on skewl equipment.
I see a skewl covering its hind end and cowering at the ACLU. Only the fear of God (pardon the pun) can prevail against this.
These edu-crats are so depraved! Of course, if it had been a song singing the praises of Allah there wouldn't be any controversy! I guess "Amazing Grace" is dead to the public schools now - unless a kid sings "Amazing Allah"....
Amazing Grace Lyrics
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.
The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.
When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.
"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see. (end)
Note to self: send money to Alliance Defense Fund.
ping for later pingout.
From the data I'm seeing satan is allah.
Diva's Husband
I agree. Allah is either Satan or his evil twin.
Moral Absolutes Ping.
Yet more evidence that public schools are extremely bad for children and other living things.
Let me know if you want on/off this pinglist.
Note: I was raised as an atheist (more or less) and whatever religion we had in school - prayer, real Christmas plays, and so on - didn't hurt me one bit. I never felt (when I got old enough to think about it) that religion was being shoved down my throat. I liked the Christmas carols.
U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Trenton >>
one of President Bush's 6 out of 6 (100%) pro-abortion appointees to the federal judiciary in NJ
I hope and pray the judge sides with God and the US Constitution. I'll be watching.
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