Judge orders 'gay' agenda taught to Christian children

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | February 24, 2007 | Bob Unruh

[Man50D]

A federal judge in Massachusetts has ordered the "gay" agenda taught to Christians who attend a public school in Massachusetts, finding that they need the teachings to be "engaged and productive citizens."

U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf yesterday dismissed a civil rights lawsuit brought by David Parker, ordering that it is reasonable, indeed there is an obligation, for public schools to teach young children to accept and endorse homosexuality.

Wolf essentially adopted the reasoning in a brief submitted by a number of homosexual-advocacy groups, who said "the rights of religious freedom and parental control over the upbringing of children … would undermine teaching and learning…"

David and Tonia Parker and Joseph and Robin Wirthlin, who have children of school age in Lexington, Mass., brought the lawsuit. They alleged district officials and staff at Estabrook Elementary School violated state law and civil rights by indoctrinating their children about a lifestyle they, as Christians, teach is immoral.

"Wolf's ruling is every parent's nightmare. It goes to extraordinary lengths to legitimize and reinforce the 'right' (and even the duty) of schools to normalize homosexual behavior to even the youngest of children," said a statement from the pro-family group Mass Resistance.

It also is making available background information about the lengthy dispute.

"In the ruling, Wolf makes the absurd claim that normalizing homosexuality to young children is 'reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy.' According to Wolf, this means teaching 'diversity' which includes 'differences in sexual orientation.'

"In addition, Wolf makes the odious statement that the Parkers' only options are (1) send their kids to a private school, (2) home-school their kids, or (3) elect a majority of people to the School Committee who agree with them. Can you imagine a federal judge in the Civil Rights era telling blacks the same thing – that if they can't be served at a lunch counter they should just start their own restaurant, or elect a city council to pass laws that reflect the U.S. Constitution?" the organization said.

Lawyers for the families said they already had planned an appeal of the judge's opinion.

But Wolf's claims followed very closely the reasoning submitted earlier in a brief by Human Rights Campaign, the ACLU, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and other advocates for the "gay" agenda.

Earlier, Mass Resistance President Brian Camenker had wondered why such national groups were "so interested in a parent's right to decide what moral issues are taught to his children by adults in elementary schools, especially regarding

"They must see David Parker's case as quite a threat to their ability to push their message on children," he had said. His organization has posted information about the judge's ruling on the Internet for readers to review

But the judge concluded that even allowing Christians to withdraw their children from classes or portions of classes where the religious beliefs were being violated wasn't a reasonable expectation.

"An exodus from class when issues of homosexuality or same-sex marriage are to be discussed could send the message that gays, lesbians, and the children of same-sex parents are inferior and, therefore, have a damaging effect on those students," he opined.

"Under the Constitution public schools are entitled to teach anything that is reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy," the judge wrote. "Diversity is a hallmark of our nation. It is increasingly evident that our diversity includes differences in sexual orientation."

And, he said, since history "includes instances of … official discrimination against gays and lesbians … it is reasonable for public educators to teach elementary school students … different sexual orientations."

If they disagree, "the Parkers and Wirthlins may send their children to a private school …[or] may also educate their children at home," the judge said.

Parker was arrested and jailed in Lexington in April 2005 over his request – and the school's refusal – to notify him when adults discuss homosexuality or transgenderism with his 6-year-old kindergartner. That despite a state law requiring such notification.

The incident made news around the nation and even Gov. Mitt Romney agreed with Parker.

However, in April 2006 the same school presented the book "King and King," about homosexual romances and marriage, to second-graders and again refused to provide notification.

Parker and other parents followed with the federal civil rights lawsuit, alleging school officials were refusing to follow state law.

Just days later, David Parker's son, Jacob, was beaten up at Estabrook Elementary, officials said. MassResistance said a group of 8-10 kids surrounded him and took him out of sight of "patrolling aides," then pummeled and beat him.

"The state must fight 'discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation' in ways that 'do not perpetuate stereotypes,'" the lawyers for the school district had argued at an earlier motions hearing. They also explained to the judge that, in their opinion, parents have no right to control what ideas the school presents to elementary schoolchildren.

"David Parker's dilemma … threatens the parental rights and religious freedom of every Massachusetts parent, and indirectly every parent in America," said John Haskins of the Parents' Rights Coalition.

"As the Lexington schools themselves are arguing, the state's right to force pro-homosexuality indoctrination on other people's children arises directly from former Gov. Mitt Romney's nakedly false and unconstitutional declaration that homosexual marriage is now legal."

Haskins said when the Massachusetts state Supreme Court demanded homosexual marriages in the state, it didn't have the constitutional or legal authority to order the governor to act or to order the Legislature to make any changes, and the creation of same-sex marriages in Massachusetts actually was accomplished by executive order from Romney.

[Old_Grouch]

Fortunately, none of the radical homosex stuff seems to have made its way into our local public schools, in the event that private school is not forthcoming.

The insidious influences don't have to be as blatant as "Heather had two mommies." They can be "innocent" influences like emphasis on group work as opposed to individual initiative, downplaying excellence and success to avoid pointing out differences, encouraging social time and discouraging too much work (my daughter was teased by teachers several times for studying in the cafeteria during lunch hour, jokingly discouraged), and many other subtle attitudinal influences.

[Pinkbell]

Exactly!

"In the ruling, Wolf makes the absurd claim that normalizing homosexuality to young children is 'reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy.' According to Wolf, this means teaching 'diversity' which includes 'differences in sexual orientation.'"

There are many variations in sexual orientation. How far will schools go? They must be "diverse" you know. There are many variations in sexuality, will schools teach 6 and 7 year olds about bisexuality, transgenderism, polygamy, incest, beastiality, asexuality, autosexuality, and other variety or subvariety of these?

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I agree!

The Cultural War is On! BRING IT ON! It is the SCALIA court.

Any FR people out there that have courage and guts please take this to the SUPREMES!

God bless.

[Aquinasfan]

ordering that it is reasonable, indeed there is an obligation, for public schools to teach young children to accept and endorse homosexuality.

The judge is only speaking what has been, until now, the unspoken agenda of government schooling. The important question now is, Will Christian parents remove their children from godless schools? The answer is no. The schools have been godless for some time now. Self-described Christians have a track record of being more interested in free babysitting than their children's moral and spiritual well-being.

[CSM]

"An exodus from class when issues of homosexuality or same-sex marriage are to be discussed could send the message that gays, lesbians, and the children of same-sex parents are inferior and, therefore, have a damaging effect on those students," he opined.

---

Um, how do same sex couples have children?

[Aquinasfan]

As I watch parents seeing their children on to the yellow buses, I really question the stereotype of parents protecting their children at any cost!

You should. Here in MA, all the kids in our neighborhood were getting on the bus today.

[Aquinasfan]

And homeschooling will be illegal.

It was tried before in the '90s with the reauthorization of the elementary and secondary education act, which mandated the certification of "all teachers." This was a backdoor method of destroying homeschooling. When homeschoolers caught wind of it, they shut down the Capitol switchboard and this portion of the bill was killed.

They'll get my kids over my dead body.

[Leatherneck_MT]

"Sounds like something a Nazi would say."

When it quacks like a duck.....

[Aquinasfan]

We aren't really the right personalities to home school or that would be an option.

That's my wife, but our kids are getting a great education. Get a pre-packaged curriculum for whatever your faith is, and just dive in. Give the kids the lesson plans and tell them that once their work is done, they can go out and play.

You'd be surprised how much they can do and learn in a short amount of time 8-)

We've been doing this for six years. Our kids are both 1-2 grade levels ahead in all of their courses. They know more Catechism and Bible than I do, and neither girl knows who Britney Spears is.

[montag813]

Do not hesitate to home educate.

while you still can. Look at Germany. Does anyone doubt we are heading in the same direction?

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

This is the frontline in the battle of the left and the right. The left has no principles, no ethics, no shame. They will resort to any kind of tactics to get their way. They will destroy people to get where they want to go.

[A. Pole]

They'll get my kids over my dead body.

But, would it not better if conscious parents kept children in public schools and resisted like these families in Lexington? If more people joined them the other side would be stopped before further expansion.

Isn't better to resist before they come to your home?

[Aquinasfan]

But, would it not better if conscious parents kept children in public schools and resisted like these families in Lexington?

To me, it's like putting children on the front lines in a battle. It would have little effect, except to destroy the children.

As a taxpayer, I have as much a right to voice my concerns regarding the running of gov't schools as any other parent, which in practice is, sad to say, little to none. Public schools are simply impregnable to parental input. I have first hand knowledge of this, having run for school committee myself, from watching school committees in action when they've forced through compulsory "sex ed" programs, and from studying the history of compulsory gov't schooling.

The teacher unions run the schools. And the ideology that they put forward is taken up from the leading schools of ed, like the Columbia Teachers College.

The only way out of this morass is to pay off the teacher unions (with large severance packages) in exchange for a full-fledged voucher program. Aside from homeschooling and private schooling, there is no other way out of the status quo.

[auto power]

I say let's teach the children how dangerous a gay lifestyle can lead to devastating diseases etc......

[A. Pole]

"But, would it not better if conscious parents kept children in public schools and resisted like these families in Lexington?" To me, it's like putting children on the front lines in a battle.

In the societies ruled by the Communists, parents could not take their children from the public schools. The resistance in subtle and informal ways slowly grew. In the end Communists were not able to brainwash children.

If Commies were smarter, maybe they would allow the safety valve allowing the most conscious and determined families to opt out of the system.

[expatguy]

Never in a MILLION years would I allow a public school district to indoctrinate my children into think homosexuality is normal.

[massgopguy]

Where have you been?

[Man50D]

This is the frontline in the battle of the left and the right. The left has no principles, no ethics, no shame. They will resort to any kind of tactics to get their way. They will destroy people to get where they want to go.

We need to stop referring to them as leftists and liberals and start calling by their true identity of socialists and communists. They are attempting to destroy the U.S. in many ways. One is to destroy the foundation of any population, the family. What better way to do so than endorse a life style anathema to procreating a family.

[glymers]

I say let's teach the children how dangerous a gay lifestyle can lead to devastating diseases etc......
That would be too logical..