CELINE DION SONG BANNED: 'TOO CHRISTIAN' FOR SCHOOL, FAITH UNDER FIRE

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | June 8, 2003 | staff

[fight_truth_decay]

Students' choice of music at graduation leads to legal scrap over 1st Amendment.

Celine Dion has been banned from a high school in Virginia for being too Christian – or at least one of her songs has.

Singer Celine Dion

Two students who wanted to sing an inspirational song at their graduation ceremony won't be hitting any high notes following a legal scuffle that erupted when school officials said their choice of music was too religious for a public school ceremony, reports the Hampton Roads Daily Press.

Anna Ashby and a friend volunteered to sing and chose ''The Prayer,'' a tune that's been recorded by Christian singers as well as mainstream artists like Celine Dion.

''The Prayer'' mentions God once and speaks of faith and the presence of a higher power. ''Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace. Give us faith so we'll be safe,'' the lyrics say.

Windsor High School in Windsor, Va.

The students showed the song to Windsor High School principal William Owen who gave the lyrics to Isle of Wight Superintendent Michael McPherson for a "second opinion."

McPherson then passed the lyrics along to the attorney for the school board who said allowing the song would violate the requirements for separation of church and state.

''That doesn't sit very well with me at all,'' said Ashby. ''The song isn't really like 'Holy God, praise you Jesus.' It was meant to be an inspiration for our classmates. It wasn't meant to say, 'Look at me, I'm a Christian,''' she told the newspaper.

WorldNetDaily discovered that in Windsor High's own statement of beliefs, the school says "a learning and teaching environment is most effective when it fosters the acceptance of cultural diversity and promotes positive interpersonal relations," and that "students are best prepared for the future when offered a variety of learning experiences."

Ashby and her father, a pastor, told school officials she had a First Amendment right to sing the song and then contacted the legal group the American Center for Law and Justice, which agreed denying the song did indeed step on Ashby's right to free speech.

When the ACLJ threatened school officials with federal litigation, the school responded by issuing a complete ban on singing at the ceremony, forcing the ACLJ to give up its fight.

''Students have no constitutional rights to have songs at their graduation,'' Stuart Roth, senior counsel for the ACLJ, which is affiliated with Pat Robertson's Regent University, told the newspaper.

Anna's father, Bishop James R. Ashby, says public displays of faith are important in rural communities like Isle of Wight.

''This is rural America,'' Ashby told the newspaper. ''This is not metropolitan USA. Religion is a vital part of the fabric of rural culture. I'm talking about where I live.''

The ACLJ's Roth says separation of church and state comes into play only when the school has a hand in choosing religious material. In this case, Roth said, Ashby volunteered to sing, chose the song and had a right to sing it.

''Is this really what the Founding Fathers intended?'' Roth told the paper. ''That a young lady could not get up and sing a song with a few references to God?''

[fight_truth_decay]

DailyPress:Last year, a federal judge ruled that seniors at Plainview High School in eastern Colorado could say a prayer at their ceremony. But a federal judge in West Virginia ruled that students at St. Alban's High School could not pray at their ceremony. About 100 students did so anyway, reciting the Lord's Prayer.

Just last week in Winnecone, Wis., school officials gave 18-year-old Rachel Honer the go-ahead to sing "He's Always Been Faithful," by Christian recording artist Sara Groves. Honer agreed to substitute "He," "Him" and "His," in place of God in the lyrics.

The key U.S. Supreme Court decision on the issue came down in 1992, said Davison Douglas, a law professor at the College of William and Mary. A Rhode Island school district asked a rabbi to pray at graduation. The court said in a 5-4 decision that the prayer coerced students into religious exercise and violated the First Amendment.

[smith288]

Separation of church and state? Where is the school teaching religion? These people are Nazis. Plain and simple. They hate faith...

[Xenalyte]

Any school that wants to ban Celine Dion is okay by me.

[ConservativeMan55]

LOL...yeah I thought she was a leftie?

[Senator Pardek]

How can any one person have such a good voice, and yet be so annoying? </>Barbra Streisand

[fight_truth_decay]

American Civil Liberties Union’s Briefing Paper: Religion in Public Schools "A school cannot hold an assembly involving religion, even if students do not have to attend." (ACLU, 2).

School officials may not advance or endorse any particular religion or sect, and may not prefer religion to non-religion.
Teachers may teach about religion in appropriate academic settings, such as history class, but may not reach from a sectarian ‘perspective’ or endorse a particular belief system.
Students have the right to maintain their own religious beliefs. They may not be pressured to participate in any religious activity, or in activities which violate their beliefs. School officials should try to accommodate reasonable requests for the private expression of religious beliefs. (ACLU, 1).

[Xenalyte]

I have no idea what she is. I just know that she's damned to the lowest circle of artistic hell for that horrid song from Titanic.

[fight_truth_decay]

Any school that wants to ban Celine Dion is okay by me.

This issue has nothing to do with Dion.

[mom4kittys]

"The Prayer" is written by David Foster, whose amazing protege Josh Groban has also recorded this song with Charlotte Church.
David's wife Linda Thompson writes lyrics and has written about faith in other songs such as To Where You Are sung by Josh Groban. If you haven't heard of Josh Groban you missing out!

Lyrics:
To Where You Are
Music: Richard Marx
Lyrics: Linda Thompson

Who can say for certain
Maybe you're still here
I feel you all around me
Your memories so clear

Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You're still an inspiration
Can it be
That you are mine
Forever love
And you are watching over me from up above

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream
And isn't faith believing
All power can't be seen

As my heart holds you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me everyday
'Cause you are mine
Forever love
Watching me from up above

And I believe
That angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up
To where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile
To know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

I know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

It is surprising whith Foster's ties to liberals like Streisand.

[Xenalyte]

See, I don't think La Streisand has such a hot voice either. She's always struck me as overwrought and hammy. Plus, she seems to insert extra Ws into her words: "Pewple who nyeed pewple . . ." "Evwergwreen . . "

[Xenalyte]

Oh, that must be why the headline includes the words "Celine Dion."

[Eustace]

My understanding of separation of Church and State comes from Churches being TAX FREE , preventing government intrusion. But since the 1950's many of our Churches have been "incorporated". Incorporation goes back to 600 BC in Greece , Rome made good use of it and still does today.

An incorporated church CANNOT speak against government policy or candidates without the threat of losing their "tax exempt" status granted by Caesar. That means that many of our churches cannot say what Christ would say about us , our society or our government. Which means they no longer speak for Christ , but the state.

The States DID NOT give the federal government control over religion in America , that's why it's not mentioned in federal documents. But check out State Constitutions and YOU will see quite a different story.

Hitler said "Tell a lie long enough and people will believe it."

The Truth

Christians in this country better decide who they worship , Jesus Christ or the state.

Stand up with Christ.

He did for us..................

[fight_truth_decay]

The words of the song..origination of material this student used. You can't see past that?

[Senator Pardek]

MEOW!

Sorry.

[Xenalyte]

The article's opening sentence:

Celine Dion has been banned from a high school in Virginia for being too Christian – or at least one of her songs has.

It's a JOKE. Lighten up, Francis.

[fight_truth_decay]

America has lost her moral bearings, yet the church stands strangely mute..The Truth !!

[Catspaw]

I just know that she's damned to the lowest circle of artistic hell for that horrid song from Titanic.

She lives, he dies, the boat goes down.

I do know that I was sooo hoping that Celene Dion would fall off the bow in the nanosecond or two I saw the music video for that dreadful song.

[Kuksool]

Instead of singing Celine Dion songs, the sutdents should have wore Muslim veils and recited the verses of the Quran. I'm the ACLU would have no problem with that!

[LurkerNoMore!]

You and I are on the same side of this issue. No other issue, but you should know by now my feelings on this.

</bark>

[Senator Pardek]