In Theory: Parent, student question a Christmas concert

A live Nativity scene that serves as the grand finale for the traditional “Christmas Spectacular” winter concert at Concord High School in Elkhart, Ind. is now in jeopardy.

A Concord High student and his father — represented by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union — have sued to put a stop to the tradition.

Their complaint alleges that the show is “coercive, represents an endorsement of religion by the high school and the school corporation, has no secular purpose and has the principal purpose and effect of advancing religion.”

In response to a letter sent by the Freedom From Religious Foundation to the school district in August, Supt. John Trout declared his continued support of the Christmas tradition.

Charles Haynes, vice president of the Newseum Institute’s Religious Freedom Center, told the Washington Post that incidents like these are common during the winter season. In mediating several similar disputes, he offered this advice: that holiday concerts should not be dominated by religious music and should teach about religious holidays, not promote them.

Q. Does the lawsuit hold any merit? What advice would you offer to mediate the situation?

--

You know, I’m just a little sick of the issue. Yes, the practice could be regarded as coercive, but part of me wants to say, “C’mon. Let us keep our tradition.” But I like the ACLU and usually agree with its viewpoint, and I do even now.

But still … something within me (must be my Hoosier roots!) says, “Isn’t there anything more important to take a stand about?” I feel tired right now, and I’m tired of people with whom I agree calling “Wolf!” on what I really regard as harmless. Sorry. Not very liberal of me, and I truly do regard myself as liberal. I’m for gay marriage, I have even officiated at a gay wedding, and plan to do so again, and I think Kim Davis in Kentucky should be thrown back in the clink if she doesn’t sign gay marriage licenses as the law allows. But on the subject of Christmas music being played, somebody is actually gonna file a lawsuit? Come on!

The Rev. Skip Lindeman
La Cañada Congregational Church
La Cañada Flintridge

--

The lawsuit has merit because a public high school having a religious scene as the climax of its winter production violates the 1st Amendment concept that Congress (or any public agency), may not establish a single religion.

Now, how to mediate between the school administrator, who insists on having the production, and a parent and child who feel it is “coercive.” Without knowing the details of the scene it is difficult to make a comprehensive compromise, but here are two possible solutions.

Moving the Nativity scene from the auditorium where the winter program is being held to an alternate location offers optional and not mandatory viewing. By presenting the Nativity scene at a time before the “official” time of the winter program also renders a similar compromise.

Further, the use of alternate locations enables other groups to perform winter-related scenes that hold significance to their communities.

We are a nation of many ethnic groups who celebrate the winter season in many different ways. Let us include all, therefore, bringing “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men and Women”.

Rabbi Mark Sobel
Temple Beth Emet
Burbank

--

This lawsuit will be successful, as it should be, and I say this as a veteran participant, helper, and/or observer at many a Christmas nativity scene, living or otherwise. However all of them took place at churches or on other private property, not at government facilities like public schools.

With my peacenik buds in the Montrose Peace Vigil I also happily participate each year in the Montrose Christmas Parade. Again, no war on Christmas in this case either, as the parade promotes another aspect of the holiday revered in our culture — shopping.

In fact, possibly the only flat-out religious reference in the parade is a greeting painted on one of the Peace Train’s cars: “Welcome Prince of Peace.” Jesus was real and the historical record written after a few hundred years of oral transmission says he was called that, so I have no problem with saying it.

My advice to the school is to echo the vice-president of the Newseum Institute’s Religious Freedom Center — that public schools should teach about religion, not promote one. Call it a Christmas concert if you must, but obviously any public program during the holiday season needs to cover the spiritual waterfront. It is educational to openly acknowledge the many pagan elements of ancient winter solstice celebrations that early Christians merrily incorporated into their religious observances.

Roberta Medford
Atheist
Montrose