AUSTIN - A state district judge on Thursday ordered a "Charlie Brown Christmas" decoration at a Killeen school restored after a principal ordered it taken down over a biblical message that educators said could be offensive.

The effect of the ruling by Judge Jack Jones could be short-lived. Classes end for the year at noon Friday.

Following an hourlong hearing, Jones ruled that the door display featuring the "Peanuts" character Linus and his explanation of why Christmas matters, should be put back up with an added label: "Ms. Shannon's holiday message," according to officials who were present at the hearing.

Nurse's aide Dedra Shannon had put up the display on her office door at Patterson Middle School on Dec. 5, and the principal two days later ordered it removed because it contained a version of the biblical message that Linus had spoken in the classic show.

School officials insisted the display violated state law, specifically Texas' so-called "Merry Christmas Law," because it encouraged adherence to a particular religion. That law was enacted in 2013 to allow references to the annual holiday in schools and government offices, and to curb what supporters at the time called a "War on Christmas."

Legal challenges regarding Christmas displays in recent years have become an annual rite for state officials, who have gone to court over Nativity scenes and Christmas trees on public property, and to overturn prohibitions on references to Christmas at some school districts.

"Our employees are free to celebrate the Christmas and holiday season in the manner of their choosing," the district said in a statement at the time the controversy erupted.

"However, employees are not permitted to impose their personal beliefs on students. The display in question was a six-foot-plus tall door decoration in the main hallway of the school building, and included a reference to a Bible verse covering much of the door. Upon review, it is clear that this display was not in keeping with the Merry Christmas Bill ... which requires that a display not encourage adherence to a particular religion."

AG sued over 'censorship'

Despite protests from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and community activists that the decision smacked of being "politically correct," the Killeen school board on Tuesday upheld the removal of the decoration by a 6-1 vote.

Paxton intervened in a suit against the district Thursday, seeking a restraining order to allow the display to go back up on Friday, the last day of school this semester. In his ruling, the judge said that adding the disclaimer to the display would clear up any perceived endorsement of religion by the district.

In his filing, Paxton characterized the removal as "censorship" and asked the judge to allow the display to be put back up.

"Contrary to the decision of KISD, the inclusion of Bible verses or religious messages on student or teacher-sponsored holiday decorations does not violate Texas law," the filing in Bell County district court stated. "To the contrary, Texas law prohibits KISD from expressing hostility toward religious messages, and it also specifically encourages school districts to take a more inclusive approach to religious and secular celebrations."

Shannon had put up a homemade decoration on her office door depicting the Peanuts character Linus saying, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord...That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Linus made the comment after being asked if anyone knew what Christmas is all about.

Killeen school officials had no immediate comment on the judge's ruling.

Meaning of religious freedom

"Religious discrimination toward Christians has become a holiday tradition of sorts among certain groups," Paxton said in a statement after the judge's decision. "I am glad to see that the court broke through the left's rhetorical fog and recognized that a commitment to diversity means protecting everyone's individual religious expression."

Supporters of the display claimed victory.

"Nothing says 'Merry Christmas' like a court victory for religious freedom in December in public schools," said Jonathan Saenz, Shannon's attorney and president of Texas Values, a conservative group that advocates for traditional family values. "Ms. Shannon is a brave and faithful woman that we are honored to represent. This scenario is exactly why the Merry Christmas law was written- to protect teachers, staff, and students in their expression of the Christmas season."

Saenz filed the suit that Paxton intervened in.

A spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union in Texas, which has cautioned against bringing religious celebrations into schools, was less enthusiastic.

"The point is that you don't want to make some children feel excluded because of their religion," said Terri Burke, the Houston-based executive director of the ACLU in Texas.

"We need to be respectful of the children, whether they are Jewish or Muslim or Christian or atheist, not put them in a position of feeling left out."