Kentucky Parents Read Bible Verse Censored From ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ School Play

When a Kentucky elementary school decided to censor the school play, A Charlie Brown Christmas, they never expected how the parents would react.

Earlier this month, the administration at the W.R. Castle Elementary School in rural Johnson County, Kentucky, made the decision to cut all Biblical references from the play, including one vital scene where Linus explains the true meaning of Christmas by reciting a passage from the Gospel of Luke. The school ordered the students to remain silent during the scene, but the parents decided to take the matter into their own hands at the advice of Glenn Beck, who spoke about the situation on his radio show.

This is the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas–one of the best explanations of the gospel we have! pic.twitter.com/qp8FODpv9F

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) December 20, 2015

“I would get together with parents and I would — if I knew this was coming — take the script of what Linus actually says and I would stand up as a block of parents and just stop the show and just all of us at that point, ‘Doesn’t anybody know what Christmas is all about?’ And all of the parents stand up and just start saying it, even as the play is going on,” Beck said, according to Opposing Views.

The parents heeded Beck’s advice, and during the December 17 production of A Charlie Brown Christmas, the parents waited for the moment when Linus was supposed to recite the passage, and then recited Luke 2:8-14 themselves.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and they glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

One student’s parent, Joey Collins, called the experience an “amazing moment.”

“The parents in the bleachers basically quoted the verse from the book of Luke, and it was just an amazing moment – it really was,” Collins said. “Everybody was pretty much in tears and clapping. It was just a great time.”

The principal of W.R. Castle Elementary School, however, was disappointed in how the parents’ reacted, saying: “I wish that they had let the kids do the play.”

As the Inquisitr previously reported, the play was censored after a single parent complained about the production having references to Christianity. At the advice of the school district’s attorneys, Superintendent Tom Salyer had the scene removed completely from the play.

“In accordance with federal laws, our programs will follow appropriate regulations. The U.S. Supreme Court and the 6th Circuit are very clear that public school staff may not endorse any religion when acting in their official capacities and during school activities,” Salyer wrote on the district’s website. “However, our district is fully committed to promote the spirit of giving and concern for our fellow citizens that help define the Christmas holiday. With core values such as service, integrity, leadership, and commitment, our staff and students will continue to proudly represent our district as recently demonstrated by our many student successes.”

What do you think about the parents’ decision to recite the passage after it was censored from A Charlie Brown Christmas? Leave your comments below.

[Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images]