Appeals court set to rule on battle over Good Book

An attorney for a then-4th-grader who was prohibited by school officials from holding a Bible study with his friends at recess time says an appeals court will be hearing the case to clear up misunderstandings – and even misrepresentations – about the situation.

Jonathan Scruggs, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, said school officials admitted multiple times that Bible studies were not permitted at recess, so the district’s statements that the controversy developed out of a misunderstanding are incorrect.

And, he said, there are important constitutional issues involved.

It was in 2004 when Luke Whitson, then a 4th grader at Karns Elementary School in Knoxville, Tenn., would gather with other students under a tree at recess to discuss and study the Bible.

The discussions were entirely student led with no adult participation.

During recess it was common for students to gather and discuss other topics such as written materials, American Girl doll magazines and elementary age books such as Harry Potter, the case documents.

After a parent complained about the students reading and discussing the Bible, the school’s principal, Cathy Summa, stopped the students from holding their study; citing district policy that only permitted students to read and discuss the Bible during “free time” which was described as being before and after school.

She said district policy considers recess to be “instructional time” and subject to the same restrictions as classroom time.

Whitson’s father went to talk to the principal about the incident, and said Summa confirmed she had stopped the studies over concerns of a violation of “separation of church and state.”

After failing to find a remedy, the family through their attorney sent a letter to the superintendent and the school board asking for a change of policy to permit Bible reading during recess. Rather than respond to the letter, the board and officials issued a series of statements defending the ban on Bible studies.

In a letter sent to parents, Summa, said: “Earlier this year, three elementary age students approached me asking if they could have a Bible study group at school during recess. I also met with [sic] parent of one of these children to ask the same question. My response was that children could not have a Bible study class during the school day.”

A week later the district reiterated its stance in a press release defending Summa’s actions.

“I indicated to the students and the parents that I did not feel that organized activity of this type is appropriate during the school day,” said Summa. “While we do not discourage students from reading at recess, I think a daily planned activity that is stationary or physically static in nature defeats the purpose of recess. The purpose is to give students an opportunity to have some physical activity during the day.”

She continued, “I think it is wonderful if a student wants to read the Bible or anything else recess … However, I would become concerned if the same student or students are not participating in recess day after day.”

Scruggs said the press release was reviewed by Supt. Charles Lindsey, Russ Oaks, a spokesman for the district and the Knox County law department prior to its release to ensure it accurately reflected board policies.

Additionally, an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel quotes Summa saying, “children could not have a Bible study during the school day.”

Later, during the trial, the writer, education reporter Ericka Mellon, testified that all statements and paraphrases in the 2005 story were accurate representations of statements given to her during interviews.

Based on the district’s clear statements that officials would not be permitting students to read the Bible at recess, the ADF filed a suit against the district for violating Whitson’s constitutional rights.

In a countersuit, Summa sought $3 million from Whitson for compensatory and punitive damages.

Despite its previous admissions, at trial the defense argued that the district did not violate Whitson’s constitutional right, but instead the whole event was based on a misunderstanding.

District lawyers claimed that when Summa told the students they could not hold a Bible study she was under the impression they were asking to have the studies led by an adult, which would not be allowed during school hours, but that the district had no issues with students holding their own studies.

The defense also attempted to place the blame for the incident on Luke, arguing that he could have resolved the issue if he had taken it to the upper level administrators in the district.

Prior to deliberations, the jury was not given instructions that there was no law requiring an individual to exhaust all administrative remedies prior to filing a suit. After the jury ruled in favor of the district, the ADF appealed the case because of the errors in the lower court proceedings.

The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Ohio now has announced it will hear the case.

Scruggs said much of the reporting on the case is inaccurate and based on half-truths.

In articles on the appeals court taking the case, many outlets have said the case is moot because the district has already changed its policy to allow Bible studies and the family is simply interested in pursuing “monetary damages.”

Scruggs said the statement that the district has changed its policy is simply not true.

“They have never changed their policy. The board considered changing its policy to label recess ‘discretionary time’ which would permit students to have Bible studies during that time, however the policy change was never adopted.”

Regarding the monetary claim, Scruggs pointed out the amount his client is seeking is only $1.

“What they really want is an admission by the district that they did in fact violate Luke’s constitutional rights,” he said.

Annual study conducted by Movieguide reveals faith-based films took in more revenue in 2011

What’s a good recipe for box office and DVD sales success? It seems in 2011, pro-America sentiment mixed with conservative values and faith-centered themes equaled a hit.

This according to an annual study conducted by the Christian-focused entertainment advocacy group Movieguide, which found that in 2011, American audiences preferred movies with strong conservative content and values over movies with liberal or left-leaning values by an almost six-to-one margin.

The 760-page report claims that films with a conservative or pro-American edge, such as “Captain America,” “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “Soul Surfer,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” and “Battle: Los Angeles” raked in significantly more box office green than more liberal films like “Red State,” “Super 8,” “J. Edgar,” “Glee” and “Ides of March.”

“People want good to overcome evil, justice to prevail over injustice and liberty to conquer tyranny. They respond to strong heroes and even strong heroines, but they are turned off by radical social engineering and big government programs,” Movieguide publisher Dr. Ted Baehr said of the report, which rates movies using several criteria such as “anti-communist content,” “strong biblical morality,” and “strong pro-capitalist content.”

The study also claimed that the stronger the Christian worldview in the film, the more money it made.

Films considered to have a significant redemptive or religious focus such as “Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides,” “The Help” and “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” made more money in theaters last year than those with a non or anti-Christian core, or a mixed/humanist perspective, including “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” The Hangover II” and “The Rum Diary.” In fact, Movieguide’s report asserts that the Christian-motivated movies, on average, earned four times as much in box office returns – $64.3 million as opposed to $15.9 million.

“Most people dedicated to a particular faith are likely to find the violence, substance abuse, sexual immorality, and mocking of traditional values in most modern movies offensive,” said Megan Basham, entertainment editor at Christian news site, World Magazine. “The rare well-made film that offers the opposite is going to appeal to church-goers of every stripe.”

In addition, Movieguide reports that among the Top 25 DVD sales last year for theatrical movies, 52 percent had at least a small amount of patriotic or pro-Christian content, while only 8 percent were considered to be on the left side of the spectrum.

Baehr also pointed out that more than three quarters of Americans (238 million people) and 2.3 billion people globally, identify themselves as Christians, and Hollywood is finally starting to realize that this niche is an important one.

“When we started Movieguide in 1985, there were only one or two movies being made with a strong, explicit Christian content or values, but now there are well over 50 each year,” Baehr continued. “Every studio now has a Christian film division, and several studios are doing major movies with strong Christian content. And now all of the major studios, not just Disney, are making movies for young children and families.”

I received a screener of the film and was pleasantly surprised by it—pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Admittedly I love a good, heart-warming kind of story, but October Baby offers more than that. The acting is very good and Rachel Hendrix, who plays Hannah, does a fantastic job in a tough role. The more difficult and emotional the scene, the more she shines.

The message of the film is explicitly pro-life. It is pro-life in the big picture, telling the story of an ambitious, enjoyable, lovable character who is alive only because an attempt to murder her failed. It is pro-life in the details as well, such as when a nurse describes that failed abortion, contrasting Hannah with her brother who did not survive. It is also pro-adoption, highlighting the joy and value of adoption. “Thank you for wanting me,” says the main character in a particularly emotional scene. To be wanted, to be loved—don’t be surprised if you find your eyes filling with tears.

With all of those positives—and again, October Baby truly is an enjoyable film—it also highlights some of the weaknesses I almost always find in Christian movies, and even good Christian movies.

Christian films too often seem to find themselves in a place of limbo, somewhere between moralism and preachiness, between downplaying or assuming the gospel by saying too little and appearing preachy by emphasizing or over-emphasizing the gospel. If a film only vaguely references faith—a Scripture passage here, the obligatory church scene there—we will complain that it says too little. If a film explicitly references the gospel—the whole gospel—we will say that it is too preachy.

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that while October Baby shares a good and powerful message, it comes perilously close to moralism by only vaguely referencing the gospel.

The spiritual climax of October Baby comes when Hannah wanders into a grand Roman Catholic cathedral. Prior to this we have vague notions that she may hold to some kind of Christian, Evangelical conviction (she’s a virgin, after all), but now, as her spiritual quest continues, she wanders into this cathedral and has a conversation with a priest—the film’s voice of wisdom and godliness. She says that she is Baptist and he laughs that she would actually think that this matters. With tears in her eyes Hannah confesses hatred for herself and hatred for others. She is full of despair and anger and guilt, and it all comes pouring out of her. The priest listens attentively and then he speaks:

Because we have been forgiven by God, we should forgive each other. In Christ you are forgiven, and because you are forgiven, you have the power to forgive, to choose to forgive. Let it go. Hatred is a burden you no longer need to carry. Only in forgiveness can you be free, Hannah—forgiveness that is well beyond your grasp, or mine, a forgiveness that you can’t find on a trip or even in this cathedral. But if the Son shall set you free, you will be free indeed.

That is the moment of spiritual transformation. Hannah is changed, she is now ready to accept who she is and to forgive those who have sinned against her. This is the moment in which her Christian faith is driven home deep into her heart.

It’s not that there is anything wrong in what the priest said to her, but more that it was incomplete, a kind of lowest common denominator homily compatible with Catholicism or Evangelicalism or probably Mormonism, for that (and, indeed, it is being screened in many Catholic churches). The implications of the gospel are made the gospel. Salvation is assumed, not presented or called for. Jesus is the man who is dead on the cross at the front of the church, not the risen Jesus who calls for every character and every viewer to turn to him in repentance and faith. What is it that he has forgiven us for? Why do we need forgiveness? How does a dead Savior forgive us for anything? The film calls for the person who has sinned or been sinned against to forgive herself and to forgive others as she has been forgiven. But it doesn’t say anything substantial about the nature of that forgiveness or the nature of the One who offers it.

But what is the alternative? I suppose the alternative is to go deeper, to explain that the gospel involves Christ trading our sin for his righteousness, to explain that we are dead in sin and destined for hell if we do not confess our sin and cast all our hope upon Christ. But if the film were to go in that direction, wouldn’t it appear preachy? Wouldn’t we then accuse the filmmakers of going too far?

It is a difficult conundrum. There must be a way that a film can speak truth (and avoid doing it from the mouth of a priest whose doctrine necessarily denies salvation by grace through faith alone, but perhaps that is a topic for another day) and yet speak that truth in such a way that we won’t roll our eyes and complain. Or maybe we want film to speak in a way that only our mouths are really equipped to speak. I wonder…

Move Over Oscars: San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival Announces 2012 Jubilee Award Winners and Gives America’s Largest Cash Prize to ‘Courageous’

 SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 29, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ — More than 2,100 participants representing forty-five states from coast to coast and such foreign countries as Bulgaria, Romania, and Uganda were on hand for the presentation of the Jubilee Awards during closing ceremonies at the 7th Annual San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF), held at the Lila Cockrell Theatre in downtown San Antonio this last Saturday a mere twenty-four hours before the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

The ‘Best of Festival’ Jubilee Award — with its $101,000 cash prize — went to Courageous, the fourth feature film produced by Sherwood Pictures and the Kendrick Brothers. This cash prize is the largest to be given to an individual filmmaker by an independent film festival in America.

“Courageous is arguably the most successful independent Christian film with a distinctively Evangelical worldview in the history of the cinema,” said Doug Phillips, president and founder of the SAICFF. “With the DVD hitting #1 in sales its first week of release, more than 34 million in box office receipts, and wildly enthusiastic audiences, the Kendrick Brothers have made their mark in history and proven to the world that Christian filmmaking has come of age.”

The Jubilee for ‘Best of Festival’ given to Courageous occurred before an audience of 2,100 just one night before the Hollywood Oscars.

“Our mission is to inspire, encourage, reward and ultimately to build a replacement industry for Hollywood. Too many simply complain about Hollywood’s darkness. Our mission is to light candles of hope by affirming those films that exalt what is true, good, and noble,” noted Phillips.

“This weekend, the Oscars celebrated male perversity by awarding Woody Allen’s escapist libertine romp, Midnight in Paris, and heralding a homosexual ‘coming out’ story in Beginners,” Phillips observed. “In contrast, the Jubilees celebrated male virtue and sacrifice by awarding Courageous with ‘Best of Festival’ and giving the Kendrick Brothers the largest cash prize bestowed by any film festival in America.”

Courageous follows the lives of four police officers who are confident and focused on the job, yet failing as fathers. When tragedy strikes at home, they resolve to draw closer to God and to their children. This 129-minute action-packed drama — which also garnered the ‘Best Feature Film’ Award at the festival — tells the story of everyday dads who long to lead their families as courageous fathers. Stephen Kendrick, who co-producedCourageous with his brother Alex, was on hand to receive both awards.

“I want to take this opportunity, as we made a movie about fatherhood, to honor my father,” Kendrick stated. “He was the chainbreaker in our family . . . and there’s no one who’s had a greater impact on our lives [as] his sons.”

“The motto of [Courageous] was: Dads need to stand up and turn their hearts toward the Lord and say, ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,’” continued Kendrick. “And it was our Dad that taught us to do that, and it’s an honor to pass on that legacy to our children.”

The top honor in the ‘Best Documentary’ category went toIndoctrination, directed by award-winning filmmaker Colin Gunn (Best Political, 2004 SAICFF / Best of Festival, 2007 SAICFF). InIndoctrination, Gunn traveled with his family across America in an old yellow school bus on a quest to uncover the origins and social impact of our modern public school system and gauge it against God’s Word. Featuring interviews with whistleblower teachers, administrators, students, and parents, Indoctrination takes a hard look at the true state of public education in America. The film was also named runner-up for ‘Best of Festival’.

Upon receiving the ‘Best Documentary’ award, Gunn noted thatIndoctrination was made for “others out of genuine love for the concerns of children in America. We were so blessed to give this message. And at the end of the film [we] make it clear: The problem with public schools is that [they] drive children away from Christ. And that was the real reason for making this film, and we pray that the Lord was glorified in it.”

Two Hats, a foreign mission documentary which highlights the ministry of Brad and Deborah Wells and their seven children in Papua New Guinea, took home the ‘Best Great Commission’ Award. The film was directed by Andrew Garcia.

“This is an incredible honor,” remarked Garcia, “And I want to start by thanking my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him, this film would never have come to be. . . . And then, of course, the missionaries who were in the film . . . and the thousands of missionaries all over the world. Even as we sit here tonight, who are faithfully serving — not with eye-service as men-pleasers — but as unto the Lord. This award is dedicated to them.”

The ‘Best Creation’ Award went to Crying Wolf, an exposé of one of the most covered up big-government and environmental frauds of this generation. The 60-minute film, directed by 18-year-old Jeffrey King, exposes the lies and proclaims the truth about what the movement to bring back wolves to Yellowstone and the rest of America is really about.

“[T]his project wasn’t [fundamentally] about wolves or wolf re-introduction,” explained King, “but about reintroducing to the world biblical concepts of stewardship and dominion.”

The Jester, an 11-minute drama, got the nod for ‘Best Short Film’. The film follows a court jester who, after being banished by the king, finds himself homeless and without a sense of purpose. In his defeat, he discovers hope in hopelessness.

The much-anticipated ‘Audience Choice’ Award was given toSeasons of Gray, an 88- minute film that portrays the life of a modern-day Joseph. Upon receiving the honor, producer and director Paul Stehlik remarked, “Thank you for all of you who took the time to be here to watch the film and take the time to vote.”

“[W]hat we wanted to do [with Seasons of Gray] was to create a film that would be edifying to the believer, that would equip the church with an opportunity to engage culture, and that would allow us to engage the hearts of non-believers with the life-transforming truth of God’s Word,” noted Stehlik. “Our hope [is that] this [film] would be a doorway and opportunity to engage people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The ‘Best Promotional Media’ Award went to The Promise of Sheboygan County, a 9-minute film that highlights the many positive opportunities that Sheboygan County has to offer to entrepreneurs and families. The promotional piece was produced and directed by Philip and Chris Leclerc of Leclerc Brothers Motion Pictures, who also recently completed production of Dominion, Risk, and Manhood, a series of three dramatic shorts shot in Iceland that promote the Hazardous Journeys Society which was officially launched at the SAICFF last Friday night. This is the second win in a row of this Jubilee Award by the Leclerc Brothers, who won ‘Best Promotional Media’ for The Cripple Effect at the previous festival.

Commenting on their latest award, Philip Leclerc stated: “Sheboygan County is a marvelous example of God’s beautiful creation! This award wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the entire team at Jake’s Cafe who worked hard on this film, as well as the fine businesses that were highlighted throughout.”

Liberty Day took home the top honor in the ‘Best Commercial Advertisement’ category. The 60-second promo for the annual Liberty Day event held in northern Illinois was received by producer and director Matt Blick. In receiving this honor, 24-year-old Blick hearkened back to encouragement he received several years ago by festival judge Geoff Botkin when Blick was beginning his efforts as a filmmaker, “Do not despise the day of small beginnings.”

Jerica and Joe Henline, who are eighteen and sixteen years of age respectively, received the ‘Young Filmmaker’s’ Award for Lady Jane Gray. The 15-minute film takes viewers through the final hours of this valiant young woman’s life as she is martyred for her faith, uncovering the truth of her magnificent testimony which has been undermined by many liberal historians. Lady Jane Gray was also named runner-up for ‘Best Short Film’.

Other winners included Captivated: Finding Freedom in a Media Captive Culture, which garnered the runner-up award in the ‘Best Documentary’ category; and Seven Days in Utopia, which took second place for ‘Best Feature’. Runner-up for ‘Best Great Commission’ went to The Karen: Forgotten But Not Forsaken; andCheck This Out was tapped for second place in the ‘Best Creation’ category. Gold Rush took the runner-up award for ‘Promotional Media’, as did Berger Bullets for ‘Best Commercial Advertisement’. Shad Eash was given a second-place nod for ‘Best Young Filmmaker’ for his 8-minute film, I Don’t Believe in Guns; and Philip Hagen won the ‘Best SAICFF Trailer’ Award for his 30-second submission, ‘Light Up the Darkness’.

By Amanda Winkler | Christian Post Reporter

Thirty percent of women are addicted to it. Sixty-seven percent of men say they look at it at least once a month.

“It” refers to pornography. The statistics above reveal how pornography is an epidemic within the church community, and these numbers mirror secular statistics. The percentages are provided by Transparent Ministries and Morality in Media, respectively.

Morality in Media (MIM), a national organization opposing pornography and indecency, is fighting to combat this growing trend. It is in its last week of the National Awareness Campaign, entitled “Be Aware: Porn Harms.” This week, the focus is on how pornography harms women. With an increase in pornography consumption, there is an alleged link to the increase in violence against women.

Dawn Hawkins, Morality in Media’s executive director, says that the kind of videos the porn industry produces has grown more violent in recent years due to its popularity among consumers.

“Spousal violence is also one of our greatest concerns – the husband consuming violent porn and then living out the pornographic scenes in his marriage,” said Hawkins.

Patrick Trueman, president of Morality in Media, agrees with Dawkins and told Catholic News that when men view violent porn there is not only an increase in violent behavior but sex trafficking as well. Men who view pornography see sex as “hiring prostitutes.”

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Trueman explained in a statement that studies reveal pornography leads to violence because the excitement factor for porn eventually diminishes. As a result, the consumer requires more extreme, or deviant, material in order to reach the same level of excitement.

“Internet pornography consumers are essentially training their brains to demand violence, because the images available are unimaginably depraved and violent. By not putting a stop to this illegal pornography available on the Internet, our country is creating a culture of violence for today’s woman.”

The theory of “violent porn leads to greater violence against women” has been contested in many studies. Reason Magazine conducted research in 2007 which revealed that pornography does not necessarily lead to more violence.

With the explosion of the Internet and social media in the last two decades, Reason noted that according to people who claim porn leads to violence there should also be an increase in sexual assault. This study found the opposite. As porn has become more extreme, rape has seemingly decreased, according to this study.

Clemson University economist Todd Kendall reported in his study in 2006 that in states where the Internet expanded the fastest, rape saw the most decline.

Still, porn has devastating effects, especially on the family.

“It’s destroying families. Children are becoming a lot more involved,” said Hawkins.

Perhaps even more shocking, 50 percent of pastors said they visited adult web sites at least once a week, according to Transparent Ministries. This startling statistic is an indication at just how deeply the church has been affected by porn. No matter where a Christian is in their walk with Christ, this number reveals that he or she is still susceptible to these sins.

Influential pastor Chuck Swindoll has called porn “the #1 secret problem in your church.” “It’s ruining marriages, destroying relationships, harming youth, and hurting the body of Christ,” he has lamented. “Our churches are in trouble. This is no time to simply wait and pray.”

Many churches are starting to address this issue that has been considered taboo for many years. MIM is also urging them to do so, saying that this is something that needs to be addressed from the pulpit. The Church, Hawkins stressed, needs to do a lot better job at combating pornography. She, however, acknowledged that the ability to talk about it openly has helped.

“It’s providing help for the family. Family members are getting support. It’s definitely helping.”

“Be Aware: Porn Harms” kicked off on July 11. More details can be found at PornHarms.com.

Rick Santorum Lone Candidate to Endorse Presidential Pledge for Religious Freedom

SANTA ANA, Calif., March 1, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ — Many Middle East experts and international freedom organizations agree that Youcef Nadarkhani’s case has caused the worldwide community to transcend politics in support for the Iranian Christian pastor, proving there is heightened awareness for religious freedom. Nadarkhani has been awaiting a final decision on his death sentence for his faith.

Elsewhere around the world — in places like Syria, Egypt and Nigeria — Christians and other minorities are dying for their faith. In the United States, there has been a gradual eroding of religious freedoms.

For the past several months, Open Doors USA has been urging candidates to sign the Presidential Pledge for Religious Freedom. A candidate’s signature indicates that he or she commits to upholding religious freedom for people of all faiths in America, nominating U.S. federal judges who are committed to upholding religious freedom as defined in the pledge and prioritizing religious freedom concerns in U.S. foreign policy.

Republican Rick Santorum is the only presidential candidate who has signed the Presidential Pledge, according to a press release issued by Santorum’s staff on Feb. 3.

“Religious freedom is the first freedom guaranteed by our Constitution,” said Santorum. “It is also fundamental to the human experience, and I stand with those who suffer for their faith around the world and with those who defend them.”

While Santorum has been campaigning throughout the country, he has also worn a One With Them wristband. One With Them is a campaign launched last summer by Open Doors USA which encourages Christians in the United States to support persecuted Christians around the world who share their faith but not their freedom.

“Open Doors USA is grateful for Rick Santorum’s principled stance on religious freedom and hope his support for the pledge will bring more attention to the issue,” said Open Doors USA Advocacy Director Lindsay Vessey. “We sincerely hope other presidential candidates will join Santorum in pledging their support for religious freedom in the Unites States and abroad.”

Open Doors USA is a non-profit organization which does not endorse or support any specific candidate or party. The Presidential Pledge for Religious Freedom was sent to the candidates of every party, and a follow-up letter was sent to each campaign headquarters. Open Doors USA also followed up multiple times by email with campaign staffers. To view a list of all candidates who have received the pledge, go to the pledge website at advocacy.opendoorsusa.org. The four candidates who suspended their campaigns have been removed from the site. A list of organizations and individuals who have endorsed the campaign can also be viewed on the pledge site.

People can help by signing a petition that urges presidential candidates to sign the pledge. To sign this important petition, go to advocacy.opendoorsusa.org. This will help the candidates understand that the public cares about religious freedom and wants our president to protect and promote it. 

Nearly 70 percent of the world’s 6.8 billion people live in countries with little or no freedom of religion. Open Doors is an organization that for over five decades has come alongside Christians in 60 of these restrictive, dangerous countries, campaigning for the freedom to believe from the gulags in North Korea to the halls of Congress. Open Doors’ outreach to more than 100 million persecuted believers includes delivery of Bibles and other materials, training of indigenous leaders in the Word, Christian community development, prayer and advocacy. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5.