(Photo: AP / The Arizona Republic)
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A graduating senior at Higley High School in Gilbert, Ariz., just outside Phoenix, discovered this week that his reference to “God” had been edited from his yearbook profile.
Anthony Sciubba, 18, approached the school Wednesday about why the yearbook had taken out ”God,” who he felt was essential to his bio page, and was told that it was to avoid problems with the separation between church and state.
He was upset over the removal, because he had wanted to make a point about what God has done in his life.
"All these great things have happened to me, but it's all from God," explained the honors senior in the Arizona Republic. "I don't want people to be scared to talk about this. I ask other Christians why they never talk about their faith, and they say they feel they can't do that.
"God is a controversial figure, and people say that because of that, I can't give credit to Him."
Sciubba was one of 13 seniors who received a special full-page tribute in the school’s yearbook, an honor bestowed on students through teachers’ nominations. In his own page, he wore his school letter jacket, held a Bible, and credited all his success to others, especially God.
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After realizing his page had been censored, he approached Higley’s vice principal, Shannon Hannon, about the situation, who responded that she would advise some lawyers.
"I couldn't imagine a more understanding person," Sciubba said of Hannon in NBC News 12. "She understands why I'm doing this. It's not out of spite. It's because I couldn't say what I wanted to say through the yearbook."
The yearbook’s faculty adviser, Jennifer Wojtulewicz, explained that the staff had not taken out the excerpt to be biased. The yearbook personnel must accommodate the entire student body, so deleted the portion speaking about God. She insisted that his faith was still shown through his page, however.
In addition, Wojtulewicz reported that the yearbook’s two student editors-in-chief had already told Sciubba in advance that they could not include any references to God in the publication.
Sciubba is an honors student and athlete who ended his school career ranked fourth in his class. He plans on attending Pepperdine University, one of the top ranked U.S. Christian universities, where he will study theology and expects to become a doctor and Christian missionary someday.
