Showdown in Blackhawk County

The Rutherford Institute has filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit claiming that Deseret Palmer, a 15-year-old student, was subjected to viewing a film that contained graphic violence, profanity, and nudity. Violation of the Constitution's Establishment Clause, guaranteeing separation of church and state, is also claimed because of "torturing and killing in the name of religion."

According to Rutherford attorney Scott Kendall, the case began in November 1993 when, without prior parental consent or student notification, a teacher at Rio Linda High School showed her ninth-grade American literature class an R-rated 1991 video interpretation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum.

One scene depicts three religious figures, apparently priests, inspecting the heroine's body for signs of Satan. "They rip off her clothes," says Kendall, "and she is standing totally naked, full frontal nudity."

Physical molestation goes on for approximately three minutes, Kendall says. "In a film, three minutes is a long, long time. Here are these young boys whooping and hollering, and the girls are getting embarrassed." Palmer became so disturbed that she became physically ill. "Clearly, under the California Educational Code, this was sexual harassment," Kendall says.

Superintendent James Rutter said Palmer's teacher apparently violated district policy by not previewing the film. However, the district has not apologized or taken disciplinary action.

Copyright © 1994 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Natural Born Sinners

The Legal Road to Religious Education

Book Exposes Conflict at Megachurch

Explicit Film Prompts Lawsuit

ELCA Decides to Delay Statement

Pornography Restrictions Urged

DePaul Accused of Religious Bias

State Closes King's College

Christian Children's Fund Probed

America Becoming Fertile Mission Field for Buddhism

News from the North American Scene: November 14, 1994

Is World Ripe for Revival?

Bulgarian Protestants Resist Restrictions

Missionary Radio Tunes to Changing Times

Missions Work in China Could Be Endangered

Virgin Birth Under Dispute

Christians in Haiti Seek Help from World Churches

Southern Discomfort

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Last Chance for Television's Christy

Christians Battle Gambling

Why We Go

Missions’ New World Order

In the Name of Sophia

Earthquake in the Mainline

The Gift of Brokenness

Editorial

Married, with Children?

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Will Promise Keepers Keep Their Promises?

Don't Mimic Modern Universities

Hope and Expectation

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from November 14, 1994

Reaching the ’Happy Pagans’

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News Briefs: November 14, 1994

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