Posted on 09/26/2005 10:31:48 PM PDT by Bonaparte
Daughter of lesbian couple expelled By Mason Stockstill, Staff Writer ONTARIO - A Chino couple plans to picket a Christian school in Ontario on Monday because officials expelled their daughter after learning her parents are lesbians. Tina Clark said the superintendent of Ontario Christian High School gave her a letter explaining that 14-year-old freshman Shay Clark was being kicked out because her parents' sexual orientation is "inconsistent with a positive Christian life style." "My sexual orientation should have nothing to do with her getting an education," Tina Clark said. "I'm the one that's gay. My daughter's not. Why should her civil rights be infringed?" Shay was crushed by what happened earlier this week, which she said came as a surprise. "I knew that I might have problems," Shay said. "But I never thought it would go that far." Principal Tim Hoekstra and Superintendent Len Stob did not return repeated calls Thursday and Friday seeking comment. Phone calls to several school trustees also were not returned. Clark and her partner, Mitzi Gray, have been together for 22 years. They didn't expect Shay would experience discrimination at the school because her older sister had attended Ontario Christian schools from sixth through ninth grade. Additionally, Shay said her friends knew she lived in a home with two mothers, and "it was never a problem." On Tuesday, however, that changed. Gray said when she went to an unrelated parent meeting that Clark was unable to attend, school administrators were confused by her different last name. The next day, both women were called in and asked point-blank if they were gay, Clark said. When they said they were, Shay was expelled. "These are the same people that patted me on the back the Friday before that and asked me how my week had gone," Clark said. The family's situation is not unusual, said Johnny Chagolla of the Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance, a gay-rights organization in San Bernardino. Often, he said, students at religious schools are more likely to face discrimination. "In cases like this, there's a concern," Chagolla said. "A lot of (religious school officials) say they're very open and affirming, and then you see this, and it contradicts what they're saying." A similar situation arose earlier this year at a Catholic school in Costa Mesa, when parents pressured administrators into barring gay parents after a gay couple enrolled their twin sons at the school. Ontario Christian is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, a denomination that considers homosexuality a "condition of disordered sexuality," according to the Web site of the Christian Reformed Church of North America. The church considers the act of homosexual sex to be a sin, which "must be condemned as incompatible with obedience to the will of God as revealed in scripture." However, according to the group's Web site, the church should help gay Christians and "give them support toward healing and wholeness." As the family gathered outside the school for a news conference Friday, students and staff peered at the scene out of the windows. Receptionist Cory Overstreet said administrators would not be available to comment. According to the letter signed by Stob, school officials were not aware of Clark and Gray's relationship at the time Shay was admitted. But both women said that question was never asked, and that both of their names were included in all of the required paperwork. "Had we known they were against homosexuality, we would never have sought this school out," Gray said. "It wasn't like we announced it to the world, but it wasn't a secret, either. We've always been a family." Shay's educational future is unclear. At first, Clark had hoped there was a way Shay could return to Ontario Christian. But now, no one in the family backs that idea. The family is looking for another private school Shay can attend, but the admissions process is typically long, and she might not get in anywhere this year. Public school will probably be the answer for now, Clark said. After she gets to a new school, the family may consider legal action, Clark said. The expulsion was difficult for Shay, who said she is upset about being separated from her friends. As for the school's leadership, "They should be embarrassed," Shay said. - Mason Stockstill can be reached by e-mail mason.stockstill@dailybulletin.com , or by phone at (909) 483-9354
Women plan to protest outside Ontario Christian school
What a schizophrenic statement. In the first sentence you seem to have your mind made up that this is a cut-and-dry legal case. Then you seem to doubt this position, implying it's not fair to the child, so let's let this couple force a change in the rules at will. Do you actually support this (second) position?
I don't think it's fair to the other children or the other parents, who are enrolled there with the expectation that they are associating with other Christians. The freedom of association of the child of the homosexual parents does not trump the freedom of association of everyone else.
I don't expect their position, which was apparently the result of deceptive practice to begin with, is any more defensible than, say, a pair of devoutly Muslim parents who managed to hide their beliefs for the same amount of time.
Seems to apply here then, doesn't it?
Actually it didn't say if there was more conversation but from the attitude/statements of the "couple" AND the kids statement I'd say there was a brick wall there.
My apologies sir. or maam. no disrespect intended. You may believe he just stuck his head in the bar and said follow me, and that may help you sleep at night, but I dont think that is a serious interp. of what the scripture says. He did not come like the pharisees thought another David to conquer the romans, he was born in a stable. His friends were fisherman, Not the clean cut folks we have pulling into ports around the world today. ( sarcasm) The point is Christ told us to go into this world and make followers. We are to be in this world but not of it. That means Christ didnt engage in sin but constantly engaged sinners. Not with a Bible in hand but most likely a cup of cold water and in some cases maybe a beer.
Tell me, do you think Jesus would have kicked this girl out of a Christian school?
You are way off base with this remark. There are a great many homosexual organizations out there fighting to gain more government benefits and greater legal status. I have as yet to discover an organization of adulterers, murderers and theives who formed political organizations and lobbies so that they can perform their sins openly and proudly, with full government sanction and even special benefits.
Everybody sins, but how many people walk openly and proudly in their sins and call it an "alternative lifestyle", or an "orientation"? Homosexuality is a very unique and particularly horrendous sin because it offends God and the very nature of His creation. It's a sin that is condemned from pillar to post in Scripture, from cover to cover.
It is a sin that has become insideously 'lawful' in secular society and is granted special government 'minority' status. It's a sin that openly infiltrates the halls of grammar schools to further legitimize itself and procure future recruits. It is a sin like no other sin because it makes it a crime for people to openly hate and condemn. What other sin is like this one?
In other words it's more than a 'sin', it's a plague infested army of rats that thumps its chest and seeks to infect our children, alter our culture and tear apart our Christian Church with its devilish conspiracies and traps.
Of course, I have been FReeping long enough to know when an article is written with a bias. I hear you on the brick wall part. The fact that the person writing this article was writing about 'discrimination' being prevalent at religious schools pretty well spells out the bias.
I just hope that they were asked and that the school was prayerful about it. That's all.
How many of her classmates knew her mom and her partner were gay before they kicked her out? Do you think she was broadcasting this? Did the school let her save face among her friends? Did they show the compassion of Christ to a girl that has no control over her mothers sin? If this girl was in the students face with homosexuality then yes she is not complying . But if she is trying to be in a Christian environment and they kick her out for her parents sin...... well I would ask something of you.....
You think if others knew about your personal sins your child should be punished? Or maybe your parents sins? Should you have been punished?
I hope so too. The article doesn't really say much about the school. Gosh can you say rock and a hard place?
Not that it matters, but I'm female...so with that out of the way.
You're being willfully obtuse with my answers, and you are twisting what I'm saying. I never said Christ was Ostrich-like. Not sure about the beer, quite sure about the wine. Quite sure that he was comfortable in his earthly skin and welcomed people from whatever pit they were in, what he didn't allow was wallowing in that pit. Once they had the good news, they were expected to get out of the pit. (Even the prodigal son, had to leave the slop to get back to the good stuff).
I think if it was Jesus, and he had an eye to eye with the parent's, they would either come to know him, and leave their sinful relationship, or they would walk away and take their daughter with them.
The school really isn't commenting so we don't know everything that occurred. It's more their side of the story .
Is loving your neighbor not a Christian belief?
Do not require that burden to be carried by the children just so you can imagine yourselves to be more Christ-like.
Read post 60. It depends on the kid. But I would feel absolutely remiss in discipling my children if I did not teach them to love others who are not Christ-followers.
WHAT BURDEN? What kid knew except a few? You are right this organization is to
"sole purpose is the education of children within a Christian environment in order to reinforce the Christian beliefs that are under such heavy assault everywhere else in the world."
Maybe you do not realize the Christian beliefs that need to be reienforced. And yes they are under heavy assault, that was promised, but are we not to give grace and mercy?
Would you want the same measure of grace to be measured on you as you have this young girl?
What kind of argument is that-- 'all these parents are hypocrites in one form or another, so whether they say they submit to the rules is immaterial'.
How quick you are to trump the freedom of association of the majority, and to change the mission of the school.
It is a rock and a hard place. That's why prayer is so important. We can always trust God to have exactly the right answer at exactly the right time.
And I am sure that the writer of this article was not exactly open to the possibility that the Lord had been consulted.
Who went public with this? Not the school.
You think if others knew about your personal sins your child should be punished? Or maybe your parents sins? Should you have been punished?
The girl isn't being punished. This is a private school and attendance is a privilege not a right. And we know what the girls attitude is as she gave it. These women let the kid be interviewed. That's pretty "in your face" if you ask me.
You're making this stuff up. The school neither mocked nor spit on the girl, (though her parents are now mocking and spitting on the school). The school released the child into the hands of her 'parents' because they loved this girl and would not place her in emotional danger.
The 'parents' were cruel enough to place their child into a Christian teaching environment that would necessarily have to condemn the 'parents' lifestyle, from their homosexuality to their co-habitation, to their misinformation on the School application forms. This is outrageously callous on the part of the 'parents', because they KNEW the teachings of this school would divide the child from her 'parents', embarrass her in front of her peers, confuse her endlessly and make her life miserable.
If you choose to defend such people then that's your problem. And if you choose to take the truth and invert it to suit your sick agenda, that's also your problem. But don't try to sell your perverted 'logic' and twisted sensibilities to anyone here, you're just wasting everyone's precious time, especially your own.
What a schizophrenic statement. In the first sentence you seem to have your mind made up that this is a cut-and-dry legal case. Then you seem to doubt this position, implying it's not fair to the child, so let's let this couple force a change in the rules at will.
Schizophrenic?
Not any more than "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and render unto God that things that are God's".
Legality deals solely with "the things that are Caesars's".
Legality deals solely with man's law.
Morality deals with the things that are God's.
Something can be legal and moral. Something can be legal and immoral.
Legality and morality have nothing to do with each other. If you are in doubt, have a conversation with a trial lawyer.
As I stated in posts above, it is my belief that the child should be judged by the child's conduct and not the parent's conduct.
That is the issue you should be addressing.
Everything else you mentioned is a non-sequitur.
I dont feel I have twisted anything. I will point out something in the Prodigal son that most Christian miss....
And while he was still a long way off the Father saw him and ran toward him.....
Now tell me does God wait till we have crawled back on bloody knuckles to ask for forgiveness? No HE runs toward us.
Now in that story Who do you think Christ wants us to act like the Father? or the Older Brother?
In this Christian School story Who is the administration acting like...??? The Father or the Older brother?
Which says a great deal about them. They aren't trying to hide or make excuses. As I said in another post it's an "in your face" attitude.
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