Illinois: Religious Art Removed from School
The Southern reports:
Superintendent Bob O’Dell said officials knew the presence of the pictures was technically illegal when an anonymous note about them landed in the regional superintendent’s office earlier this year. The regional superintendent also was aware of the pictures, but O’Dell said no one took action because the note did not ask the school to remove the pictures and the consensus from the school board seemed to lean toward leaving them in place.
So, let me get this straight: school officials are OK with doing something they know to be illegal, just so long as no one asks them to stop? And these are the people who are supposed to be in charge of teaching and guiding local children?
In July the school received a letter from Americans United, based in Washington, D.C., threatening legal action against the district. O’Dell said the letter stated the presence of the pictures in the school was “grossly unconstitutional.” The group asked the school to take down the pictures.
After consulting both the school’s attorneys and those with the Christian Alliance Defense Fund, officials admitted they didn’t have much of a case. “Our legal counsel advised us we didn’t have a choice,” O’Dell said. “Their advice was it be taken down.”
What’s unfortunate is that if they had had a gallery of famous artwork, religious and nonreligious, it probably would have been OK. Even if they had added a bunch of famous pieces after receiving the letter from Americans United, they probably would have been OK (providing that they did it right).
Instead, it appears that they were only willing to contemplate two options: retain the exclusively Christian character of the display or not have any display at all. So, if they couldn’t use the halls of the school to promote one particular religion, they weren’t willing to use it for anything at all — certainly not to promote art in general. Does this make any sense?
KFVS 12 reports that it makes sense to at least some in the local community:
Pastor Al Campbell, the President of the Union County Alliance of Churches said the art was worth fighting for as fewer and fewer religious icons are on display in public areas. “Separation of church and state I don’t think ever meant to be what we’re experiencing right now across the nation,” said Campbell. “I don’t think it hurts young people to have our symbols in the schools.”
Campbell doesn’t appear to have any sensitivity to the feelings or rights of religious minorities. He doesn’t appear to care about whether the majority is abusing its power and misusing government authority, just so long as his religion benefits. He needs to learn that his religion is a matter for him and other Christian leaders, not for school officials.
Sixty-two Union County churches are circulating a petition in favor of putting the religious art back in Anna Junior High. “There’s enough of us who do care, that we certainly want to fight this and if the court says take them down, okay, but we’re gonna fight it,” Campbell said.
Campbell also needs to learn that the constitutionality of government action cannot be determined or changed based upon a petition like what he’s circulating. It doesn’t matter how many Christians approve of Christians getting special privileges from the government, that wouldn’t make such privileges just, fair, or constitutional.
O’Dell says the district will probably donate the pieces to local churches for display.
Gee, displaying religious art in religious buildings — what an amazing concept. It’s such a bizarre, outlandish idea, I’m not surprised that no one thought of it before. Talk about bright, forward-thinking people. Next thing you know, they might try other crazy notions like teaching students that the world is round and orbits the sun.
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