Update From Nativity Display Battle in Green Bay

CHURCH AND STATE

This from Associated Press:

GREEN BAY, Wis. — An organization of atheists and agnostics won’t drop its federal lawsuit against the city of Green Bay even though the nativity scene that sparked the suit was taken down from City Hall Wednesday morning.

The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation will continue with its suit, which co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor expected would be officially filed Wednesday or Thursday.

Even if the city argues that the issue is moot since the display is gone, “we want a court ruling that they can’t do it again,” Gaylor said.

Their lawsuit claims the display depicting the birth of Jesus is an unconstitutional governmental endorsement of religion. Among other things, it asks a federal judge to declare the city’s actions a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Read Full Story

Jesus Glasses and Bloggers For Chad Farnan

Much like Rosa Parks, Chad Farnan sat in the back of the bus too many times. Only with Farnan, it’s not about a bus, such as the ones during Parks’ era in which blacks were told they could only sit in the back seats.

BREAKING NEWS: OC STUDENT WINS ‘JESUS GLASSES’ LAWSUIT!

For Farnan, he sits in a high school history class where he is told by his teacher for more days than he cared to tolerate that Christians and Christians like himself were ignorant. Farnan doesn’t want to sit in a classroom anymore where he is required to listen to Christian bashing…so he and his parents are suing the Capistrano Valley Unified School District.

Farnan’s allegations are backed up by a tape he recorded of the teacher. In part of the tape the teacher says:

When you put on your Jesus glasses, you can’t see the truth.

The teacher, James Corbett, is popular enough that an estimated 200 people gathered one morning to show their support for him. Only a handful of Farnan supporters showed up that morning to partake in what some say was a vigil.

I find it interesting how strong Corbett and his supporters are in their conviction that the teacher was simply provoking thought. Funny how it’s nearly impossible to provoke thought about Jesus in a public classroom or in a public just-about-anything-else.

I’d like Corbett and his fans to get “provoked” on this one (inside parenthesis mine):

The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness (or Jesus glasses) to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense (the truth). This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It’s written, I’ll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I’ll expose so-called experts as crackpots. So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world (and some teachers) considered dumb – preaching, of all things! – to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. — 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, from The Message translation of the Bible

A local pastor has taken this opportunity to ask other Christians to rally in support of Farnan. The pastor’s “fundamentalist” ways are in question…so, I will not name him…but I am going to quote him. Although a lawsuit may not have been so “Christian”, it has drawn national attention…and for that, I am grateful.

Pastor’s quote:

“We as Christian students and parents have been told to go to the back of the bus for the last time.”

If you are a blogger that wants to show your support for Chad Farnan (not necessarily the lawsuit) and voice your opposition to the acceptance of Christian bashing in public schools, please leave a comment here and feel free to post a link to your blog.

Stay tuned!

UPDATE: Chad had put up his own website with useful contact information and his story at ChadFarnan.com.

JESUS GLASSES

Putting on “Jesus glasses” is an ideal we can only aspire to with great humility and joy, knowing that it is the truth we seek and can find in Him.

- Alexander, The Scrooge Report

Photo by Rose Palmisano, The Orange County Register

digg story  

_______________

VIDEO:
Bill O’Reilly says “irresponsible teachers” now in the crosshairs for 2008
Chad Farnan interview after court victory

RELATED: Protestors Rally to Support Christian, Conservative Basher

OTHER BLOGS:
StoptheACLU.com: Unhinged Teacher Bashing Christianity
FaithandFreedom.us: High School Teacher Attacks Christianity
Townhall.com: Offensive Statement Regarding Christianity in the Classroom!
Bookwork Room: More on the teacher accused of insulting religion in his class
ParentDish: Teacher pushes religious views; student sues
Berlin Wall Between Church and State: H.S. Teacher Giving Lesson in Hostility Towards Christians
Church and State: Unhinged Teacher Bashing Christianity
WOMANTalk: High Schooler Sues History Teacher
Thinking Christian: James Corbett “Taught Us How To Think”
WhenEvilProspers: Mission Viejo Teacher Being Sued…Dec. 18
Pray Connecticut: Do you have your “Jesus glasses” on?

ADD:

Leslie Carbone: Jesus Glasses

Bloggers for Chad Farnan Continued

_______________

This from Advocates For Faith and Freedom:

Farnan vs. Capistrano Unified School District, et al.
Location: Santa Ana, California
Status: Lawsuit Pending

A sophomore honors student at Capistrano Valley High School, Chad Farnan, is a student in Dr. Corbett’s Advanced Placement European History class. While teaching the class, Dr. Corbett spends an extended period of time at the beginning of each class discussing topics that are not only irrelevant to history, but also inflammatory and often altogether inappropriate for high school students. Dr. Corbett causes students who hold religious beliefs to feel like second-class citizens because of their protected religious expression, beliefs, and conduct. He has gone as far as stating, “When you put on your Jesus glasses, you can’t see the truth.” In addition to expressing his viewpoint regarding the Christian faith, Dr. Corbett has made derogatory remarks about Christian viewpoints regarding homosexuality, Viagra, birth control, and sexual activities of teenagers. As a result of Dr. Corbett’s hostility toward Christianity, Advocates has filed this federal lawsuit for a violation of Chad’s First Amendment rights.

***BREAKING NEWS: OC STUDENT WINS ‘JESUS GLASSES’ LAWSUIT!***