WINNECONNE, Wis. — A Wisconsin teenager is suing her school district for refusing to let her sing a religious song at commencement unless she changes the lyrics.
Rachel Honer, 18, says Winneconne High School violated her constitutional rights of free speech and religious expression when it ordered her to substitute the three references to God in "He's Always Been Faithful" or not perform at the June 8 ceremony.
Honer was told by Principal Jim Smasal that she would have to use "he," "him" and "his" because the references to God could offend some people and would violate the separation of church and state, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed last week in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee by the Rutherford Institute, a Virginia-based group that fights for religious freedoms.
Honer could not be reached for comment because she was training for volunteer work at a Christian summer camp, said her mother, Debra Honer.
"I am incredibly proud that she has taken a stand and not backed down," the mother said. "God is No. 1 in her life, so how could she talk about anything else?"
Tony Renner, the attorney for the school district, said case law favors its position.
"The school district's actions are necessary to avoid the appearance of state sponsorship of religion that would violate the law," Renner said.
He said the school district hopes to work out a compromise.