A Texas school district has been slapped on the hand by a local judge after backing a principal who ordered a poster of the holiday classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to be taken down because it included references to the birth of Jesus Christ and upheld it as the true meaning of the season.
According to a Fox News contributor Todd Starnes, Judge Jack Jones issued a temporary restraining order against the Killeen Independent School District after it supported a principal's decision to remove a poster of the Christmas cartoon from the door to the nurse's office.
As reported, Dedra Shannon, who works in the nurse's office, created the poster, featuring Linus, a scrawny tree, and dialogue explaining the true meaning of Christmas.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord. That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown," Linus said.
However, Ms. Shannon was soon confronted by the school's principal, who told her the poster's religious message violated the U.S. constitution and could offend non-religious students. In turn, the principal's decision was defended by the local school district, who issued a statement reading: "Our employees are free to celebrate the Christmas and Holiday season in the manner of their choosing. However, employees are not permitted to impose their personal beliefs on students."
"I'm disappointed. It is a slap in the face of Christianity," Ms. Shannon told Starnes at the time.
Refusing to back down, Ms. Shannon, represented by Texas Values, took the case to court. Thankfully, Judge Jones overturned the school's decision, and said the poster must include the words: "Ms. Shannon's Christmas message" in a font as large as the rest of the words on the poster.
Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, praised the judge's decision to issue a temporary restraining order and said the district's decision to affirm the banning of the poster violated the state's "Merry Christmas" law, which specifically allows students and teachers to say "merry Christmas" and "happy Hanukkah."
"Nothing says 'Merry Christmas' like a court victory for religious freedom in December in public schools," said Saenz, according to KDH News. "Ms. Shannon is a brave and faithful woman that we are honored to represent. This scenario is exactly why the Merry Christmas law was written - to protect teachers, staff and students in their expression of the Christmas season."
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also applauded the decision, stating: "Religious discrimination towards Christians has become a holiday tradition of sorts among certain groups. I am glad to see that the court broke through the Left's rhetorical fog and recognized that a commitment to diversity means protecting everyone's individual religious expression."
As reported, the controversy surrounding "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is nothing new; last year, a school in Kentucky made headlines after cancelling a stage performance of the holiday classic because it recites the story of Jesus' birth.
