An American high school valedictorian has boldly taken to the stage during his graduation ceremony to declare his Christian faith.
His North Carolina school district wanted to censor all references to God and Jesus Christ, but the student successfully challenged their initial ruling.
The student proclaimed in his speech: “I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for getting me through [school] because if it weren’t for Him, I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through life.”
“Jesus Christ has always loved me,” he proclaimed.
VALEDICTORIAN FACED MULTIPLE MEDICAL CHALLENGES
In addition to expressing his faith, the student’s speech shared the hardships he faced from multiple medical conditions, including a life-threatening illness.
He credited his parents, teachers, and classmates and urged fellow graduates to be positive influences in the lives of others.
While the names of the student and the school remain confidential, the story has resonated with Christians and religious liberty advocates across the US.
STUDENT IS BOTH INSPIRING AND NEEDED
“In a time when so many young people are afraid to speak openly about their faith, this valedictorian’s boldness is both inspiring and needed,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of religious freedom advocates Liberty Counsel which gave legal advice to the student.
In accordance with the school rules, the valedictory speech was submitted to an administrator who struck out several instances where the name of God was mentioned.
The school officer also deleted the phrase: “I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for getting me through, because if it weren’t for Him ..”
The name “Jesus Christ” was also removed.
The administrator effectively gutted the power of the student’s message.
“PERSONAL RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IS NOT A FIRST AMENDMENT ORPHAN”
School staff contended the reason the speech was initially censored was because of the perceived need for the “separation of church and state.”
However, Liberty Counsel wrote in its advice letter to the school district, that legal precedents show that personal religious expression is not a “First Amendment orphan.”
It advised religious speech from graduating high school seniors is just as protected as their secular speech.
“Recent Supreme Court cases have conclusively held that the Establishment Clause does not permit censorship of private religious speech,” it wrote.
“Such attempts are improper and violate the First Amendment.”
STUDENT’S VALEDICTORY SPEECH GOES AHEAD BECAUSE IT IS PROTECTED
“The US Supreme Court has held that private speech is protected.”
“It is only government speech endorsing religion that is prohibited by the Establishment Clause,” Liberty Counsel explained.
“A high school valedictorian’s voluntary references to his faith in God or Jesus Christ in his graduation speech are all protected by the United States Constitution.”
“Voluntary student religious expression, including student graduation messages or graduation prayer, may not be censored by school officials,” Liberty Counsel advised the student.
APPROVAL TO SHARE ORIGINAL SPEECH
The student appealed against the censorship and was granted permission to share his original speech
After the speech, he revealed both the school staff were touched by his heartfelt remarks, and one teacher expressed her approval because he stood firm in the face of pressure to change his speech.
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