High School Junior Asked To Leave School After She Refuses To Sing Jesus Christ Superstar Songs

WABC, Ch 7 NY ^ | June 19, 2002 | AP

[southern rock]

This apparently is a PRIVATE school.

Yes. It's a Roman Catholic School. I know. They have every right to expel her for any reason, blah blah blah.... That is not in dispute.

[Mercat]

My son's school (public) did JCSS. He asked for and got the part of Pilot. I'm convinced that had he asked at that point, he could have gotten the part of Judas (the lead btw, bigger part than Jesus but he was a baritone and not a candidate for Jesus who is played as a high tenor).

I love the show. It does make me squirm once or twice but I don't think it's too over the top. I prefer Godspell. Some of the music from JCSS has started showing up at Good Friday services. I can't remember the title to the song and it's always just the music, no lyrics but that makes me a little distracted.

[luckystarmom]

I agree with what you have said. At first I thought it was a public school, and I was upset. When I found out it was private, then I think they have a right to do what they want.

[ArGee]

Cheers for the girl!!! We must have a select group of idiots administering our schools these days.

It's hard to know. I went to a Catholic school although I am not a Catholic. We discussed the differences between Catholic theology and our own at home but we never tried to change the school. Our attitude was, we knew what we were getting into and we volunteered. I had to recite some things I disagreed with and I had to go to Mass regularly. The correct alternative would have been to go to a different school, not to become a pain in the a$$ for the Catholic school administrators.

For the record, most of my teachers were very open to discussing theological differences with me in a non-judgemental way.

Shalom.

[Politically Correct]

You're right. While I agree with them on the musical being blasphemous, it does sound as if they have a history of complaining.

Well, if this is the kind of things going on at this "Christian" school then I'd be complaining as well.

Funny, they want parents involved untill the point that you disagree with whatever the administration does.

But your right, no one likes a whiney parent.....
And they like them less when they're right.

[ArGee]

"Jesus Christ Superstar" is a celebration of the life of Jesus, What's the problem with it?

It displays Judas as a constant thorn in Jesus' side rather than a traitor. It displays Jesus as a frustrated man who can't seem to get his message across. It displays the apostles as coming along for a power trip. It hints at hidden desires between Jesus and Mary of Magdala. It demonstrates Jesus as very uncompassionate in at least one scene.

But overall it is thought provoking. People who ask questions might just be led to The Answer.

Shalom.

[southern rock]

Sorry - this is a private, Catholic school.

ARRRRRRGGHHHHH! I know!!!

Her dad wants to see her graduate from there? He should have thought about that before he decided to try to impose his religion on the Catholic school.

I would like to think that if a parent sends their child to a Catholic school, they might, quite reasonably, not expect "Jesus Christ, Superstar" to be taught as doctrine.

BTW, the school admitted the girl knowing she wasn't Catholic. What were they planning to do? Force her to take the sacraments as well. She's better off outa there. IMO.

[mhking]

they might, quite reasonably, not expect "Jesus Christ, Superstar" to be taught as doctrine.

Not necessarily - I've heard of the play being performed in a fair number of Catholic schools; and as others here have mentioned, the music is beginning to show up in regular services as well.

Even then, the imposition of their beliefs shouldn't be pushed onto the school. Based on that, I have to agree with you on one note -- she's obviously better off not there.

[stanz]

Jesus Christ Superstar is the telling of the life story of Christ set to Rock music. Why is it disrespectful when the Vatican gives it's O.K.? I would think if the Vatican approves, it ought to be alright with Catholics. After all the Passion Play performed at Easter time is the telling of Jesus's story set to music and no one complains about that.
I think that people who have problems with Superstar only have problems with Rock music and not the plot of the play which follows the Gospels pretty closely.

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

Yes, according to an article posted elsewhere, the Vatican does indeed "endorse" JCS, which was news to me. As I recall from the liturgical "excesses" of the seventies, it was not unusual to hear songs from this blasphemous, yet insipid, musical, sung (to guitar accompaniment, of course) during what passed for Mass in those days.

If I wanted a child to get a Catholic education, the last place I would send him or her would be a Catholic school.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lihigh0619.story

Hitting a Sour Note

Student out after opposing song medley

Megan Gaffey
(Newsday Photo / Nelson Ching)
Jun 18, 2002 By Rita Ciolli
Staff Writer

June 19, 2002

When Megan Gaffey got her school ring last month, she said she took it as a sign that she belonged at Kellenberg Memorial High School. Yesterday, the honor student was officially told not to come back to the private Catholic school for her senior year after she refused to sing a medley of songs that she and her family consider blasphemous.

As part of the spring concert, the school's chorus sang several selections from the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar.” But Gaffey, a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Franklin Square, said the medley was offensive and unfaithful to the Gospels.

"There was a piece in there by Mary Magdalene saying she was in love with Jesus ["I Don't Know How to Love Him”] and I knew I wasn't going to sing that song. The rest of the words were not very holy either,” said Gaffey, of Amityville, who turns 17 next week. She asked to be excused during that medley or not to participate in the concert. Instead, in April she was removed from the chorus.

James Gaffey, an executive for a Long Island retailer, said his daughter should have been excused from the concert for exercising a matter of conscience, or penalized in some other way for not participating. "Never for a minute did I expect this sort of thing,” he said.

Brother Kenneth Hoagland, principal of the Uniondale school, said 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 said that by calling the song blasphemous, the parents showed they "had no confidence in the school's administration.” He said he advised them to "seek a school more in line with their philosophy.”

The school, founded by the Marist Brothers, is 98 percent Catholic and all students must be Christian. Several years ago a student who converted to Islam was asked to leave, Hoagland said.

Hoagland said that when Gaffey first was admitted to the highly selective school he was unaware that her parents "had left the Catholic Church because they considered it too liberal and unevangelical,” he said. "Soon this hostility became evident. A number of Megan's teachers found Megan difficult in class since she reflected her parent's hostility to the Catholic Church.”

Gaffey, who said his daughter was not confrontational, called the charge of hostility a "total falsification.” He said that Megan would have dialogues with her teachers in religion class and that once she did challenge the infallibility of the pope. "They want to blow it up bigger than it is,” he said.

Gaffey, who has paid $16,000 in tuition so far, 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.

Megan Gaffey said she was allowed to attend the school's ring day ceremony in May and had the impression that she would be allowed to stay.

"They waited until yesterday to tell me for sure, leaving me with very little choice but to go to public school. I have never been in public school and that is going to be difficult for me,” she said.

Gaffey attended a Christian day school from kindergarten through second grade and then was home schooled until she started as a freshman at Kellenberg. Her two younger sisters and a brother also are being home schooled.

"Jesus Christ Superstar” was released as a rock album in 1970 and a year later a musical theater production opened on Broadway. At the time, it was picketed and condemned by some Catholic and Jewish groups for its portrayals of Jesus and Judas. The Rev. Billy Graham called the show "blasphemy.” While some Christian groups still object to the show, the Vatican endorsed the musical in 1999 for the first time, abandoning its criticism that Jesus was demeaned and portrayed as too human. The musical was performed as part of the Vatican's year 2000 Jubilee Celebration in Rome.

Copyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc.

[Paul Atreides]

It just goes to show that "private" does not automatically mean "good." You are right about the parent/administrator point. I would be interested in what they said the other complaints were about. My point was, if they were differing on matters of theology, the parents only have themselves to blame, since the school is 98% Catholic. But, if it is a matter of the content of the secular material (such as what is being taught, or certain school policies), then they had a right to complain.

Still, if they didn't check the school out thoroughly, they have themselves to blame.

[stanz]

But overall it is thought provoking

Aha.

[ArGee]

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, not a rock star. It is disrespectful.

I'm sure there are people all over the world who have mis-conceptions as to who Jesus Christ is or was. I believe Superstar is a good first step to open people's minds to deeper study and eventually meeting Christ for hemselves. IMHO, it is no more disrespectful to have Him sing His lines than to have Him speak English (his native tongue being either Hebrew or Aramaic).

Of course, you're talking to someone who was profoundly impacted by Superstar to take Christ more seriously. I had to unlearn a lot later, but I might never have even asked the questions had Superstar not come out.

As for my children, I'd rather have them singing:

Buddha, was he where it's at? Is he where You are?
Could Mohammed move a mountain? Or was that just PR?

any day over the sexually charged music on the radio today.

The Last Temptation of Christ depicting Jesus having sex with a woman - that is not only disrespectful but blasphemous. I see no such attempt to denegrate Christ in Supserstar

Shalom.

[oyez]

Looks like the Catholic schools are as messed up as some of the clergy these days

I've noticed that. Some administrators seem to take pride in driving off parents and students. And especially parents that are more educated and know something about howe a school should be run.

[MotherSpector]

I don't think it is based on anything but a feeling. I did not enjoy Jesus Christ Superstar either. I guess the Vatican also approves of priests having sex with the children, but I don't.

[ArGee]

Well, if this is the kind of things going on at this "Christian" school then I'd be complaining as well.

Remind me never to invite you over to my house.

You come to my house, you tolerate me. If you don't like me, you may leave, but don't ask me to change.

If you are a good friend, then you may point out my flaws, but not until you've earned that right.

Shalom.

[Paul Atreides]

I am not Catholic, so the Vatican's endorsement doesn't sway me. However, if the minister at the church which I attend was to endorse it, I would be very vocal in my disagreement. What's next? The Bible set to rap music? Country music?

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Who are you
To criticize her?
Who are you
To despise her?
Leave her, leave her
Let her be now
Leave her, leave her
She's with me now
If your slate is clean
Then you can throw stones
If your slate is not
Then leave her alone!

I'm amazed that men like you
Can be so shallow, thick, and slow
There is not a man among you
Who knows or cares if I come or go