The title of the Catholic League press release is provocative: “Columbine Religious Art nixed due to lack of dung.”

It goes on to quote its president, William Donohue, saying:

“Had the parents plopped some dung on their memorial tribute, school officials would have readily accepted it. That is because it is entirely legal to defame a religion on public property, just so long as someone calls it art.

But it is illegal to post work that reveres religion. In short, the original meaning of the First Amendment clause on religion has been stood on its head.

“A spokesman for the Jefferson County School District has said that if the religious-themed ceramic tile art were posted, it might offend some people. He's quite right about this. What it will take to convince him that many more might be offended by not allowing such art, I do not know.

“In any event, didn't we just finish hearing in New York that being offended by art is no reason to ban it? And didn't we just finish hearing how wrong it is for public officials to get involved in such matters? And didn't we just finish hearing how awful it is to censor artistic expression? Or do these strictures only have application when art defames religion?”