A middle school in New Jersey invited students to come to classes in their Halloween costumes, but apparently one costume was too scary for school officials. One 13-year-old came to school dressed as Jesus: in sandals, long robe, long hair and beard, and a crown of thorns. The principal promptly sent him home, but defended her decision by saying the costume was a disruption to the education process because it attracted too much attention. She denied that the costume's religious nature had anything to do with her decision. The student, whose mother is Catholic while his father is Jewish, said he created the costume because his friends had told him that is long hair made him look like Jesus.

All was not lost however--the student used the same costume for trick-or-treating. There is no report on whether anyone offered him shelter.

--The CDS Humanist Monthly