Catholic School Disinvites Detroit Pistons' Dancers; Decency Advocate Applauds
by Jim Brown
January 25, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A Catholic high school in Michigan, after being accused of "accommodating pornography" by holding an event featuring the Detroit Pistons' dance team, "Automotion," has taken back its invitation to the performing group. In the wake of protests from the American Decency Association, Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills has cancelled a scheduled appearance by five members of the dance troupe at an alumni fundraiser on Friday.ADA president Bill Johnson was a leading voice of censure against the school, saying Brother Rice needed to distance itself from a group like Automotion that is known for its "skimpy clothing" and its "soft-core pornographic" swimsuit calendar. In not doing so initially, he contends, the Catholic school was ignoring its mission of "fostering the spiritual development and responsible moral choice" of young men.
"We're very concerned about the bad testimony that this will set," Johnson said of the school's previous position. "This is what pornography does, though. Little by little we find that pornography is accepted. People accommodate to it so readily, so easily, and little by little it works its way out into a lifestyle."
The decency advocate felt the school was offering a poor witness by hosting a group with a reputation based largely on its talent for titillation. However, he says the school at first seemed nonchalant about the matter, if its officials' lack of response to the ADA's expressed concerns were any indication.
Initially, Brother Rice principal John Birney was standing by his decision to invite the Pistons' dance team, saying the school was "appreciative ... Automotion is donating their time to the event again this year." Birney said representatives of the dance troupe have appeared in their official game day uniforms at previous Brother Rice events "without any negative comments."
Johnson said he made several efforts to get through to the school's decision-makers, seemingly to no avail. "On the basis of not hearing back from them after sending two e-mails and pointing out scripture and lifting up the whole matter of pursuing holiness, 'without which no man shall see the Lord' (Hebrews 12:14), my concern is that the administration at Brother Rice does not understand a close, loving relationship with Christ," he said.
A Questionable Change of Heart
However, at the ADA's persistent urging, the school finally acquiesced and rescinded Automotion's invitation to the school function. Principal Birney says the decision was made "after internal discussions with the school community," which led him to conclude that the appearance by the dance group "could be a distraction" from the fundraising event.
Although he is glad Brother Rice's principal came around to the right decision, Johnson has misgivings about the fact that Birney's change of heart resulted from public pressure.
"I still have concerns about it," the ADA spokesman says, "because he still is kind of stating that this dance team was going to be dressed in NBA-approved apparel at this Christian function. And that doesn't really make things right -- the fact that it has the approval of the NBA -- because, for the Christian, it isn't whether or not the NBA approves of the outfit, but what would Christ say."
In any case, Johnson applauds the school's ultimately correct decision and hopes to see a greater good emerge from the controversy. "I believe that this will be an opportunity for Christian people to remind those decision makers that it is imperative that the holiness of God be lifted up -- and the dignity of women," he says. "So I think this is creating an opportunity for, perhaps, the voice of those who were concerned that maybe weren't being heard to, at this point, be heard."
A recent ADA statement notes that the group remains "deeply troubled" over the fact that a Catholic high school with a mission of fostering the moral and spiritual development of young men would consider sending a message to its students that, in effect, "legitimizes pornography and the objectification of women."
The mission of the Michigan-based American Decency Association is to educate its members and the public on decency issues. The organization also works to initiate, encourage, and coordinate efforts both to protect and to promote public morality consistent with biblical Christianity.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
