A Texas court ordered the restoration of a Bible verse on a Charlie Brown poster that was removed by the administration of a middle school, according to media reports.
The "Charlie Brown Christmas" poster was displayed on the nurse's office door by Dedra Shannon, a nurse's aide, at Patterson Middle School in Killeen on December 5.
The poster shows a smiling character of "Linus" from comic strip "Peanuts," who is waving his hand while reciting a Bible verse.
The message on the display is from the 1965 holiday special, where the characters are alluding to commercialization of Christmas, and its real meaning.
In the story, the main character Charlie Brown is being mocked by his classmates over his modest Christmas tree, but then he asks other kids, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"
His best friend Linus is the only one who answers, "Sure, Charlie Brown," he says. "I can tell you what Christmas is all about."
He then narrates a Bible verse from Luke. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord," Linus says. "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
A few days after the message was displayed on the nurse's office door, the school's principal told Shannon to take down the poster lest non-Christians feel uncomfortable and the display be interpreted as government endorsement of Christianity.
The school board members voted to remove the poster.
However, Shannon sought legal counsel from a conservative non-profit law firm Texas Values. The firm and the Texas Attorney General sent their respective letters to the school to discuss the matter.
The Attorney General's office took the case to district court to appeal for an injunction so that the message could be put back up in conformity with the principles of freedom of speech and religion.
District Judge Jack Jones gave his verdict in favor of Shannon, but said that the poster can only be restored with the label on top of it stating "Ms. Shannon's holiday message."
The school district said they have no problem with the judge's decision.
"We believe that directing the individual to include the additional text better complies with state and federal law," the school district said in a press release. "We support this decision."
