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JUDGES AFFIRM BAN ON CHRISTMAS CAROLS

by Todd Starnes

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We three kings of Orient are no more thanks to three judges in Philadelphia. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a New Jersey school district’s ban on Christmas carols.

“Certainly, those of us who were educated in the public schools remember holiday celebrations replete with Christmas carols, and possibly even Hanukkah songs, to which no objection had been raised,” the court said in its ruling.

Santa Claus and Rudolph are more than welcome but the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes is not.

Click here for the Philadelphia Inquirer story.

The controversy surrounds a 2004 decision by the Maplewood-South Orange School District to ban religious-themed carols. It also banned the high school gospel choir from performing at a school assembly.

A school brass ensemble was not allowed to perform instrumental versions of religious holiday songs. And, according to court documents, printed school materials were not allowed to include holiday images like Christmas trees.

Michael Stratechuk filed suit arguing the ban violated his children’s First Amendment rights.

But the appeals court sided with the school district, writing:

“Since then, the governing principles have been examined and defined with more particularity. Many decisions about how to best create an inclusive environment in public schools, such as those at issue here, are left to the sound discretion of the school authorities.”

In other words, folks, the times they are a-changing.

Todd Starnes is a network news reporter and best-selling author. For more on his book, click here.




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9 Responses to “Judges affirm ban on Christmas Carols”

  1. Gerald says:

    If you dont like the religious-themed Christmas carols don’t listen. Public schools are for all. When I attended public school we sang Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs, and it was no problem.

    • supermom says:

      The way things are going this day and time, we will be lucky if we still have churches to go to. There is going to be a time when we will not be a loud to praise the Lord or worship in any way or form. We as people need to put an end to all of the DEVILS doing and get our stuff back!!!! God Bless to All!!!!!!

  2. Evelyn says:

    I believe public schools are excluding a great deal of real facts about the founding of this country and it's original Christain based values.

  3. Belle_T says:

    Christmas was a reason for living. A season for giving. We were all happy. I don't see much celebration for being atheistic or agnostic. No wreaths there. And if you want to scrape the bottom of the barrel, no 'holiday' bargains for them, either.

  4. guest says:

    Public schools are a place I don't want my children in. They are creating a group of children who will grow up far to liberal and with a lack of moral values. This is a country that is based on Christian based values and should remain so. Send your children to private schools for a good education.

  5. Roberto De Leon jr. says:

    This smells like censorship – against religion, culture, call it what you will. It is a sad day when a nation founded on the principles of freedom of worship and speech becomes one in which courts judge for curtailing freedom of worship and speech. I hope the judges in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reconsider, or else decide to leave decision-making to other judges. In other words – tend in your resignations.

  6. unknown says:

    This ban on christmas in schools is wanting to make my cry. At night n my prayers I ask Our father that one day Scrooges' spirit would leave the public schools. In a local elementary school that I once attended the principal threateans to take recesss away from any child that talks about "the reason for the season" I have had enough of this f….. bull s…__. America was founded on the religion of Christianity and christianity alone. If the non christians can't except that then they should just get the hell back to where they came from. "I (Jesus) am the light of the world. Whoever walks on my path shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Merry Christmas America and ,ay God bless everyone who agrees with me.

  7. Jacob says:

    America was founded on Christianity. That needs to be adressed in public school districts. I once wrote a letter to the superintendent asking to bring non religious chritmas things back into the schools. He told me tat if that was done it would be braking federal laws. These wackos such as our current president of the united states (who I remind you is screwing up America) need to learn to respect the American traditions such as santa, stockings, or whatever it is. To anyone reading this comment if you agree with me may the blessings of the only God of the world (the father of Jesus) be with you. "Cast your anxieties on him because he cares for you" (1 Petre ?).

  8. Jacob says:

    " Where you Christmas, why can't I find you? Why have you gone away? " The younger children that I feel so bad for need thei Christmas parties back . There was nohing religious about them. Santa, Stockings, baking cookies is nothing religious it is an American tradition that has been goiing on for hundreds of years. I just want to hug all these young kids that cry when they can's talk about Santa with their friends on school grounds. It makes me want to cry myself. I am on the give it back side of this war. I am defending the young children. Althouh all that stuff is fun to almost anyone we Christians will never forget "the reason for the season. May god bless you. Bring Christmas back to us. The only place I can celebrate the true meaning of our holiday is in my church this is rediculous. it needs to end and this war needs to end now!!!