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Judge to Christian mom: No 'homophobic' teaching
WorldNetDaily ^
| 10/31/2003
Posted on 10/31/2003 8:44:52 AM PST by WillRain
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 joint 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.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: custody; homosexual; judge; religion; shristian
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Eye-yi-yi-yi-yi.
Just when you think the judiciary can't get any more hostile...
1
posted on
10/31/2003 8:44:53 AM PST
by
WillRain
To: WillRain
Are there any Biblical injunctions against Lesbianism? I was not aware of any.
2
posted on
10/31/2003 8:46:35 AM PST
by
gridlock
(Rooting for the Yankees means you can say, "We'll get 'em next year!", and mean it!)
To: WillRain
I truly think if he'd said that to me I'd tell him to "F Off".
3
posted on
10/31/2003 8:48:39 AM PST
by
theDentist
(Liberals can sugarcoat sh** all they want. I'm not biting.)
To: WillRain
Surely, this "judge" has overstepped his boundaries...
No way ANYONE has the right to tell you what you can or cannot say in the country. (I must be dreaming)
4
posted on
10/31/2003 8:49:38 AM PST
by
Terridan
(God help us send these Islamic Extremist savages back into Hell where they belong...)
To: WillRain
Why exactly is this breaking news? It happened yesterday, there is no ongoing drama, and the story has already been posted several times this morning under various threads.
To: WillRain
Might as well just start handing the kiddies off to the state to raise. When a parent's ability to teach to their morality is infringed upon, then the parent's ability to parent is taken away!
6
posted on
10/31/2003 8:49:55 AM PST
by
CSM
(Shame on me for attacking an unarmed person, a smoke gnatzie!)
To: gridlock
Are there any Biblical injunctions against Lesbianism?Well, in the Old Testament, the Jews are looked upon with great favor, which means that the Lebanese (as well as the Egyptians and the Syrians) were not.
To: WillRain
The directive arose from the decision to award joint parenting responsibilities for her daughter to a practicing homosexual. Would they give joint custody to a Christian and a Satanist?
If you ask me, the Colorado Courts need a good spanking.
Shalom.
8
posted on
10/31/2003 8:52:36 AM PST
by
ArGee
(Hey, how did I get in this handcart? And why is it so hot?)
To: WillRain
I suppose it would be OK to teach the kid how to be a prostitute, take drugs or steal, but oh no we can't let them be exposed to that bigotted Christianity.
Comment #10 Removed by Moderator
To: gridlock
Romans 1:26-27a -- "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature; likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful..."
11
posted on
10/31/2003 8:53:43 AM PST
by
Sloth
("I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" -- Jacobim Mugatu, 'Zoolander')
To: WillRain
So it's happened. Judges can now order parents how to raise their children.
Unless we can release the Left's death-grip on the judiciary, we are royally screwed.
To: WillRain
13
posted on
10/31/2003 8:55:07 AM PST
by
TomServo
("Yes, I will take money from my dad's wallet and send it to Soupy Sales.")
To: WillRain
This is an outrage! How dare these judges tell parents what to teach their children!
Hope David Limbaugh is seeing this, he can add it to his very long list of persecution of Christians!
14
posted on
10/31/2003 8:55:19 AM PST
by
ladyinred
(Talk about a revolution, look at California!!! We dumped Davis!!!)
To: WillRain
I don't understand. Someone please explain to me how a judge has authority to make whatever "laws" he wants. The 1st amendment only protects us from Congress. How can the Bill of Rights protect us from a judge who wants to abridge free speech?
15
posted on
10/31/2003 8:56:35 AM PST
by
m1-lightning
(Lick your fingers and touch two pinball machines at the same time.)
To: WillRain
For class reading. Thanks.
16
posted on
10/31/2003 8:56:37 AM PST
by
Van Jenerette
(Our Republic...if we can keep it!)
To: gridlock
Romans: v[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. [26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet[meet definition: fitting or proper].
17
posted on
10/31/2003 8:57:59 AM PST
by
keithtoo
To: gridlock
Yes. Admittedly, in Scripture male homosexuality is condemned more explicitly. Nevertheless, it is clear from this passage in Romans 1 that lesbianism is also deemed a product of societal immorality. The way this passage reads in context suggests something like, "Things had gotten so far out of hand that even
women became gay," as if somehow lesbianism an indicator of the absolute worst moral decay.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
18
posted on
10/31/2003 9:01:11 AM PST
by
mcg1969
To: ArGee
Colorado is ABA Heaven.......it's courts/judges are always PC correct!
Check out the historic record.
Lawyers ski party warming up?
(Bring PC tax money)
/sarcasm
19
posted on
10/31/2003 9:04:26 AM PST
by
maestro
To: gridlock
Romans 1:26, "Because of this God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another."
Biblically, homosexual behavior is all sinful - man/man or woman/woman.
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