School Play Causes "First Amendment" Issues

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School play causes 'First Amendment' issues

By Brad Edwards, WOOD-TV Broadcasting (Grand Rapids, Michigan), June 5, 2006

MUSKEGON -- Muskegon Public School officials admit making a mistake in the case of a school assembly that "clearly" crossed the line between the separation of church and state.

"The Last Call" is a play written by the congregation of Shiloh Tabernacle Church in Muskegon. Reverend Vern Wright said it is based on the Book of Revelations and is actually about forgiveness.

But the subject matter, and the fact the play was presented at a mandatory Steele Middle School assembly on Good Friday, "could be a serious First Amendment problem," said Kary Moss of the ACLU. The ACLU is now investigating concerns that Muskegon Public Schools "endorsed" a religious message.

In one scene a mother is reunited in Heaven with the baby she aborted. In another scene a lesbian dies of AIDS and is damned to an eternity of misery after killing the man who molested her.

Wright says they've performed the drama for 15 years without any complaints until now. "I do it because I love my community," he said.

Muskegon Public Schools Superintendent Joe Schulze said he was unaware of the production prior to the performance.

"It was a mistake on our part," says Schulze.

Because of this, Schulze said all district administrators will attend an in-service dealing with the separation of church and state issues.

"If the leadership recognizes it made a mistake, hopefully that would be an end to the matter," said the ACLU's Moss.

Wright said his group has performed the play at other area schools, including Muskegon Heights. 24 Hour News 8 was not able to reach anyone at those schools for comment or confirmation.

Wright said he'll continue to preach the play's message: "There is no sin that God can't forgive."

But he'll no longer do so in Muskegon Public Schools. However, Shiloh Tabernacle plans a free public showing of "The Last Call" at Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts at 7 p.m. on June 30.

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