Posted on 10/30/2003 10:37:12 PM PST by scripter
A Colorado mother is appealing a child custody decision in which a court barred her from teaching homosexuality is wrong.
Cheryl Clark, who says she is a Christian, has been ordered by Denver County Circuit Judge John W. Coughlin to "make sure that there is nothing in the religious upbringing or teaching that the minor child is exposed to that can be considered homophobic."
The directive arose from the decision to award joint parenting responsibilities for her daughter to a practicing homosexual.
"Forbidding the raising of children in the parent's Christian beliefs is an anathema to parental rights and religious freedom," said Mathew D. Staver, president and general counsel of Florida-based Liberty Counsel. "Must the mother rip out pages of the Bible that say homosexuality is against nature, or must she cover her child's ears if her pastor preaches about sexual purity?"
Staver explained to WorldNetDaily Clark and Elsey McLeod were in a lesbian relationship that broke up after Clark became a Christian and concluded homosexual behavior was wrong.
The Denver court gave McLeod join custody of Clark's adopted daughter, Emma, even though McLeod had no legal relationship to the girl. It also, in conjunction with the ruling in favor of McLeod, said Clark cannot raise her child with any religious teaching or upbringing that is "homophobic."
Staver said courts cannot "give parents a no-win decision of either abandoning their Christian beliefs or abandoning their children."
The definition of "homophobic," Staver noted, is "all across the board," from being fearful of homosexuals to disagreeing with their lifestyle.
"It takes no stretch of the imagination to envision a judge finding the mother in contempt of court for merely teaching her daughter about the Biblical truths on homosexuality," he said.
Liberty Counsel filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the mother in her case before the Colorado Court of Appeals.
Staver notes the U.S. Supreme Court has long held that the Constitution guarantees the freedom to "worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience." Similarly, he said, the high court has acknowledged "the values of parental direction of the religious upbringing and education of our children in their early and formative years have a high place in our society."
Another troubling aspect of this case, he said, is the award of visitation and joint parenting responsibilities to a third-party who has no legal relationship to the daughter or the mother.
The decision, according to Staver, stands in direct conflict with precedent throughout the country that denies visitation to a third party based solely on that person's prior sexual relationship with the legal parent.
Staver told WND he is not aware of any similar cases in the U.S., although there have been some in which a judge has told a parent not to say anything degrading about the other parent's lifestyle.
None, to his knowledge, however, have gone to the extent of Coughlin, issuing a directive that restricts a parent's religious practice.
Juxtapose this case, and see if you can decern the Judges decision. Say the adoptive mother was gay, and the "roommate" (i.e. parent with no "legal relationship" to the child) was the new Christian. Say, perhaps, the child was very close to the Christian woman, regarded her as a second mother, attended church with her, and even stretch the case to the point where the Lesbian adoptive mother was leading a wanton, and even “proselytizing” the young daughter by taking her to “coming out” parties, plying her with lesbian literature, and so forth.
Would the Judge rule consistently? Would the Judge grant the Christian former lesbian “roommate” with no legal standing parental visitation rights. Would this child be allowed to attend church against the objections of the Lesbian mother?
Well, of course he/she would. It would make perfect, if perverted sense to this Judge. I guess the only question is, is this Judge also gay? Is that Judge bi-sexual? Is that Judge a member of a pro-atheist organization which is openly hostile to Christians (e.g. ACLU)? Is anyone in that Judge’s immediate family gay? That conflict of interest would turn the argument full circle.
Expect many more such “difficult decisions” by the newly evolved, “blended family”, as Child Welfare agencies give first priority for adoptions and foster care to “minority couples” (especially Gays), while almost entirely shutting out anyone who admits to having a Bible in their house, or attending church on Sunday. It’s more than just an outrage, it’s purely sad.
Here's some personal experience (once removed) with the adoption industry, for those who care to read further:
My Christian sister adopted one child, and attempted the adoption of a second. The first was the child of an alcoholic mother, with all the attendant problems, and the second, of a drug abusing mother. She paid something like $20K to $25K in “fees” in both cases. The second mother had “second thoughts” after returning from partying for two weeks after the delivery. I guess she was off the drug high. She invoked her “parental rights”, and got the baby back. My sister was, of course, out every nickel she spent, while this young lady got a free load, plus a post-partum sucker-funded vacation! It was a great deal for all, except, of course, for my sister and her husband, who watched, waited, and cared for the woman for the full nine months of the term, and bonded with the baby for two weeks afterwards. They never heard what happened to the baby after the druggie mom got him back.
My cousin, who’s husband is a Christian Pastor, went a far simpler route. Even though they already had a boy and girl of their own, after several years in the Mission fields, they felt a burden to help the poor girls of China, who are either murdered, or tossed away like flotsam to state orphanages. The only chance these girls have of a normal, healthy life. The adoption rate for girls in China is zero, however, they make a great cash-and-carry industry. My cousin used her inheritance to travel to China and adopt a beautiful little girl. She’s as precious as the come. Again, they paid a fortune for the opportunity of giving a little girl a hope and a dream.
The adoption business in the USA, and it is a business, is an obscene, pork laden, political hack-piece of garbage. The only one’s who lose are the kids, and truly, since they cannot vote or “pay to play” (re: California’s Gov. Gray Davis), who cares about them anyway. The rest of the world takes its cue from nations like the USA. We murder children via abortion. Why shouldn’t they? We warehouse and sell kids to the highest bidder, or most “politically correct” minority, irregardless of the welfare of the kids, so why should they use their own rejects as a renewable “cash crop”.
I love this country, but so much we allow is absolutely immoral.
SFS
That would make him a Reagan judge. T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U, our dear friends, the RINO's. I'm trying to recall who it was, maybe Ed Meese, but I can't recall, who was making the recommendations. Reagan couldn't dare put anyone who was too conservative before the Senate, or the RINO Senator's wouldn't "risk" the political heat.
In my whole life, I've seen the tail wagging the dog, as the miniority RINO's call the shots in Republican Senates. Hey.. why be a Democrat, when being a Republican deflects the political right in a left-wing state, while being a Jeffords type RINO gives you 10x the influence in a Republican Senate?
< upchuck >
SFS
This idiot has to be a member of the Homosexual Agenda For America. Either that or he's a sleepwalker.
Like to have his hard drive examined.
In my whole life, I've seen the tail wagging the dog, as the miniority RINO's call the shots in Republican Senates. Hey.. why be a Democrat, when being a Republican deflects the political right in a left-wing state, while being a Jeffords type RINO gives you 10x the influence in a Republican Senate?
Crack kills, fella. Pull up your pants, because your a$$ is showing. This was a state court judge, selected by state processes. The President and Senate had no hand in his selection.
Of course, considering your whole "Reagan and Meese were RINOs" opinion, there isn't much about you that has anything worth saying. My suggestion is that you try shutting the hell up before going into stupid rants in the future.
But this judge is not a federal judge, and Reagan had exactly ZERO to do with his arrival on the bench. Colorado district judges are appointed by the governor of Colorado, with an initial 2-year retention election and then retention elections every 4 years.
The governor in 1985 was Richard D. Lamm, a Demoncrat.
You know, you could look all this stuff up before you post. I found it all in about 2 minutes.
There is, however, an out to this whole thing. 'Homophobic' clearly involves fear, not the belief, that homosexual behavior is sinful. Love the sinner; hate the sin.
No bio-parents anywhere - the ex-lesbian adopted her. I'd be interested to know how long she and the still-lesbian were shacked up, and at what point before/during the relationship the girl was adopted.
So, even the ex-lesbian mom is not the bio parent of the child?
Makes you feel sorry for the child.
Clark and Elsey McLeod were in a lesbian relationship that broke up after Clark became a Christian and concluded homosexual behavior was wrong.
ANother example of someone having their genetica altered. This woman was homosexual and now, after coming to Christ, no longer is. Since the pro-death-by-AIDS/homosexual crowd says that homosexuality is genetic she must have had her genitics changed.
Clark and Elsey McLeod were in a lesbian relationship that broke up after Clark became a Christian and concluded homosexual behavior was wrong.
ANother example of someone having their genetica altered. This woman was homosexual and now, after coming to Christ, no longer is. Since the pro-death-by-AIDS/homosexual crowd says that homosexuality is genetic she must have had her genetics changed.
Clark and Elsey McLeod were in a lesbian relationship that broke up after Clark became a Christian and concluded homosexual behavior was wrong.
ANother example of someone having their genetica altered. This woman was homosexual and now, after coming to Christ, no longer is. Since the pro-death-by-AIDS/homosexual crowd says that homosexuality is genetic she must have had her genetics changed.
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