Posted on 11/17/2013 11:39:55 AM PST by SeekAndFind
A humanist organization is threatening lawsuits against two public schools for their participation in Operation Christmas Child, a project of evangelist Franklin Graham's international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse that seeks to deliver Christmas toys to needy children throughout the world.
The American Humanist Association recently sent letters to two public elementary schools, one in South Carolina and one in Colorado, threatening legal action if they continue participating in Operation Christmas Child, which delivers thousands of shoe boxes stuffed with gifts to needy children throughout the world every year during the holidays. Along with containing small gifts, the shoe boxes also include a small note inviting recipients to join in Christianity. The American Humanist Organization argues that Operation Christmas Child's commitment to "[sharing] the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ" means that public schools in the U.S. should not participate in the program.
In its letter sent to East Point Academy in West Columbia, S.C., the humanist association accuses the school of "promoting student participation" in the Operation Christmas Child program by encouraging students to assemble shoeboxes and donate money. According to the humanist organization, East Point Academy has been involved with Operation Christmas Child since 2011.
"Because the purpose and effect of Operation Christmas Child is to induce impoverished children to convert to Christianity, the school's promotion of this program violates the Constitution. The school must immediately suspend its unconstitutional participation in Operation Christmas Child," the letter states.
"The boxes of toys are essentially a bribe, expressly used to pressure desperately poor children living in developing countries to convert to Christianity, and are delivered with prayers, sermons, evangelical tracts and pressure to convert. While a private religious group is free to pursue such a goal, even through such questionable means, a public school cannot affiliate itself with, endorse, promote or support such a group's program without violating the Establishment Clause," the letter adds.
A similar letter was sent to SkyView Academy in Highlands Ranch, Colo., stating the atheist group's claim that the school's participation with Operation Christmas Child was unconstitutional. That elementary school has reportedly been involved with the program for several years in efforts to help needy children.
In response to the humanist association's letter, East Point Academy has already announced that it will cut ties with Operation Christmas Child to avoid any legal proceedings. Renee Mathews, school director at the South Carolina school, said in a letter to parents earlier this week that "in an abundance of caution because we do not want to expend school financial resources defending a lawsuit, we are not going to accept Operation Christmas Child boxes. If you and your child had planned to donate a shoebox of supplies, you are encouraged to find a charity of your choice for the gift."
The school in Colorado has yet to respond to the humanist association's letter.
Operation Christmas Child said in a statement to The Christian Post that it stands by its mission to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus Christ.
"Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization. As our name indicates, and as is communicated in all of our promotional materials and website, we are a project that aims to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas – the birth of Jesus. Our purpose is to show God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world. We do this by distributing millions of shoebox gifts to hurting kids to let them know that they are not forgotten. Operation Christmas Child is open to anyone who chooses to participate in this Christmas project," the statement read.
Unfortunately, not only do I suspect that many patriots are not up to speed with what the Constitution actually says about our religious freedoms, but I think that institutionally indoctrated, pro-religious expression lawyers are just as clueless about the issue.
Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year for atheists. If they think there is no God why should they care if others do?
Have you heard of “unschooling schooling”?
Similar to home school but with more practical hands on sort of things, especially great for tactical learners.
My granddaughter is really struggling with traditional learning styles, she is very hands on.
There was a lessons on angles, they were supposed to draw angles. She was so upset she just didn’t get it.
Her step dad took her to the house they are flipping, showed her how to measure angles for cutting tile, she cut (with his help) the tile around the tub and the decorative tiles.
When she got home she ran into the house “grandma, did you know and started telling me all about angles and why they were important”.
Home school is going to be in her near future (even her teacher has said she should have this opportunity).
Anyway, its another option.
Put me on your list. Thanks.
“If they think there is no God why should they care if others do?”
Liberalism (communism) is all about controlling what others think and do. Liberalism is a religion and obviously it is threatened by other religions.
I think they’re offended because children should only be exposed to one kind of love: homosexual adoptive parents making out in the next room.
If there are any crazed nuts out there who want to go postal, one of these groups would make a great target.
Time to abolish public schools.
A humanist organization is threatening lawsuits against two public schools for their participation in Operation Christmas Child
So it is being human to hate children and destroy programs that bring the joy and hope.
As Americans we must stand up against they have no Constitutional leg to stand on. We do. They use intimidation and fear to get towns schools etc to surrender. Never surrender to hate...............
Yes, I’ve heard of unschooling.
It goes beyond just using practical applications to teach.
There is a time and place for hands on teaching and it should be in addition to regular class work kind of teaching.
Some of the real adamant unschoolers eschew any bookwork altogether, which I disagree with. There’s a need to be able to discipline oneself with sitting down and doing work on paper. Real life requires it in all kinds of different situations.
their twitter addy is @americanhumanist.
if you give a twat.
The American Humanist Association’s website is http://americanhumanist.org/
They offer merchandise and bumper stickers so cleverly designed such as “God Less America” with a circle/slash thru the ‘B’, and another stating “born again humanist”.
Of course there is an article at their site bashing Sarah Palin. A glimpse of the photographs of their board of directors is a showing of the stereotypical smarter than thou libtards one can find in most cities.
We will never find Christ to be wrong.
Truly he is God. The LORD almighty!!
He is the God of the Atheist too!!
JESUS is justice!
Our charge is the “Great Commission”.
His will will be done, I and will embrace peace of heart
with purpose.
This is how I deal with these Atheist.
I pray for them, because the Lord commands that I do.
My motive is not completely pure though; because I derive great pleasure from thier indignation.
East Point Academy has a facebook page, I went and advised them to grow a backbone. Visit the page with your comments too.
I wonder if normal atheists find this kind of stuff embarrassing.
What, precisely, is a normal atheist?
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