Posted on 06/20/2002 11:08:28 AM PDT by southern rock
(Uniondale, Long Island-AP, June 19, 2002) — An honors student at Kellenberg Memorial High School has been told not to come back for her senior year because she has refused to sing a medley of songs from the play Jesus Christ Superstar.
Megan Gaffey says she and her family consider the songs blasphemous.
As part of the spring concert, the school's chorus sang several selections from rock opera. But Gaffey, a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Franklin Square, said the medley was offensive. Gaffey says she asked to be excused during that medley or not to participate in the concert. Instead, she was removed from the chorus. James Gaffey says his daughter should have been excused from the concert for exercising a matter of conscience, or penalized in some other way for not participating.
Brother Kenneth Hoagland, principal of the Uniondale school, says the challenge to the songs only brought to a head almost three years of conflict with the family who "did not accept the school's notion of Christianity."
Hoagland says the parents showed they "had no confidence in the school's administration." He advised them to "seek a school more in line with their philosophy."
The Kellenberg School was founded by the Marist Brothers. It's 98 percent Catholic and all students must be Christian.
Gaffey wants to see his daughter graduate from Kellenberg next year. Otherwise, he said, she most likely will attend Amityville High School in the fall. She ranks among the top 15 in a class of approximately 340 students.
Gaffey attended a Christian day school from kindergarten through second grade and then was home schooled until she started as a freshman at Kellenberg.
I'll remember that the next time a church choir performs "The Seven Last Words of Christ." The church where I grew up performs that every year, with my grandfather singing the part of Jesus.
Oh, and of course, I guess any sort of gospel choir's singing is out then too. Let's see, how about Contemporary Christian Radio? Using that logic, it's out as well. The "Hallelujah Chorus" or all of Handel's "Messiah?" Out.
Safe is what brings glory to Him, what gives you joy in His name, and what bring others to His presence. I would say that to seek Him beyond the core doctrine is what is His will.
Unfortunately, in the eyes of many, my method of challenging and asking questions is wrong, and blasphemous.
You just hit the nail on the head. The dogmatic types can't watch JCSS with an open mind. If it doesn't come out of the King James Bible (which itself is an interpretation, but I digress), then it can't be right.
Talk about closing yourself off - or one better, closing off so many others who are reached outside of the KJV...
You will be hard pressed to find any comments where I poop on anyone's religon, so try again.
I too believe there is more to the story. I believe this girl was deemed a troublemaker for her religous beliefs or rather her probable dislike of catholic doctrine. They also kicked out a student who converted to islam. So the school has been pretty consistent. They seem to have a problem with students disagreeing with their doctrine. What a suprise.
A few people on this thread have argued over doctrine aimed at either catholisism generally or Jesus Crist Superstar specifically. I have no problem with that.
You came in here eager to play victim before you added the obligatory bash in your next post. Bravo.
It's not about having an open mind about Superstar. It's about allowing G-d to move in the way He prefers without forcing Him into a box.
Half the time we think we are defending Him we are really defending ourselves. It helps to remember that He doesn't need to be protected by us or from us.
IMHO the dividing line should be this:
If someone is presenting someone who is clearly anti-G-d (Jesus was not G-d in flesh, Jesus was not resurrected, G-d is part of the universe, not its creator, etc.) then you are obliged to stand up for the truth.
If someone is presenting someone who is very similar to G-d but a little off, let him go if he is clearly interested in knowing G-d. You may be the one who is off. G-d is in the business of correcting His children and He will reach out to anyone who is dilligently seeking Him, no matter how mistaken they may be in their understanding of who He is.
Always remember that G-d is infinite and we are finite. Therefore any notion we have of Him will always be wrong - if only in that it will be incomplete for all eternity.
Shalom.
G-d moves. We resond. Some respond differently than others.
Don't bash Christians - even if they are bashing you.
At least, that's what I think Jesus would say.
Shalom.
I took it for what it was -- a work of art.
From the perspective of art, it is no different that Handel, or even Da Vinci's Last Supper, or Michelangelo's Cistine Chapel -- it is an interpretation. However, when it is put to music, it takes on a more devotional tone for some, and is harder to accept as a work of art (in my opinion).
-PJ
Actually, it's even worse than that. Tim Rice actually hates the God of the Bible. (It's therefore not a very good idea to try to use JCSS for evangelism! Lost people will not see what is wrong with JCSS.)
See my #140 for the link which demonstrates Rice's malevolence toward the True and Living God.
Can I ask why you find the last scene of Godspell so wonderful? I saw it about ten years ago (unaware of the show's content) and I thought the last scene was horrible. I was sitting there waiting for the next scene! My impression was that the ending conveys the meaning: Jesus was a good teacher and even though he's dead now, his teaching and legacy will live on in our memories. I can't see how anyone who puts their hope in the ressurection of Jesus would be anything but appalled at how that musical ends.
You are too kind. Don't let a people like me or anyone else be the final reason you remain agnostic or not. Seek G-d. If He's not there you'll only be wasting a little time. If He is there (as I maintain) you will find Him.
Note: There is a difference between seeking Him and trying to find out more about Him.
Shalom.
Do you mean the last supper or the bearing away of the body?
I saw it about ten years ago (unaware of the show's content) and I thought the last scene was horrible. I was sitting there waiting for the next scene!
Some people loved Survivor. Different strokes...
My impression was that the ending conveys the meaning: Jesus was a good teacher and even though he's dead now, his teaching and legacy will live on in our memories.
I can't speak for what Steven Schwartz meant, but my take was that Jesus was not dead but alive, and you need to prepare the way for His arrival in your life.
I can't see how anyone who puts their hope in the ressurection of Jesus would be anything but appalled at how that musical ends.
Your viewpoint depends on your point of view, I guess.
Shalom.
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