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Judge to Christian mom: No 'homophobic' teaching
Worldnetdaily ^
| October 31, 2003
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.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: antichristianbias; catholiclist; homeschool; homosexual; homosexualagenda; judge; parentalrights; prisoners
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To: f.Christian
So, we're supposed to be proud of you for calling people nazis?
21
posted on
10/30/2003 11:14:09 PM PST
by
Jim Robinson
(Conservative by nature... Republican by spirit... Patriot by heart... AND... ANTI-Liberal by GOD!)
To: f.Christian
We are all entitled to our belief systems... I for one put Christianity and science in a box and mix them together...
22
posted on
10/30/2003 11:15:22 PM PST
by
Porterville
(American First, Human being Second; liberal your derivative lifestyle will never be normalized.)
To: Jim Robinson
MILLER: Im not as sure of my guesswork anymore. To be on the Left, you have to be amazingly certain about things youre guessing at, and I felt like a phony. I was looking for ideas, and all I was getting from liberals was, Wed like a little more of your money, and were kind of reticent to protect you from bad guys. Really? Thats all youre offering? I gotta go! I cant stay anymore. Also, when I kept hearing liberals equating Giuliani with Hitlerthats when I really left the reservation. Even before 9/11, Id travel to New York and say, Wow, this city certainly seems to be running better. Giuliani is the kind of leader I admire. When its five degrees below zero and you arrest somebody to get him inside and off the streetthats not something Hitler would do. It made me realize that I was with the wrong group if thats what Hitler looked like to them.
TAE: Where do you see the danger in that?
MILLER: I always wondered how Hitler happened. I even went so far as to read William L. Shirers The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. I read all 1,200 pages and at the end of it I remember thinking, Yeah, but how does Hitler happen? Part of it has to do with the Left mislabeling people as Hitler. Its like Pierce Brosnan at the end of the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. He dressed everybody up in the same Bowler cap and overcoat, and then he walks right through the middle of them without being noticed. The Left is so busy saying John Ashcroft is Hitler, and President Bush is Hitler, and Rudy Giuliani is Hitler that the only guy they wouldnt call Hitler was the foreign guy with the mustache who was throwing people who disagreed with him into the wood-chipper.
23
posted on
10/30/2003 11:16:57 PM PST
by
f.Christian
(evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
To: enuu
But even if this woman had not converted to Christianity, why should she have to share custody of her own adopted daughter with someone unrelated to her? If an ex-boyfriend tried to get custody of his former girlfriend's daughter, every woman's group would protest against it. My wife just said the same thing. The judge's directive stinks enough that perhaps the judge is homosexual? Dunno. But it really stinks and if I were Clark, I'd be making a whole lot of noise.
24
posted on
10/30/2003 11:18:45 PM PST
by
scripter
(Thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle)
To: scripter
WTF, I mean just WTF is this?
25
posted on
10/30/2003 11:18:54 PM PST
by
Ursus arctos horribilis
("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
To: Jim Robinson; f.Christian
I think he should understand the subtle difference between a National Socialist, NAZI and a Democrat Socialist, DAZI.
He should call them DAZI's. =o)
26
posted on
10/30/2003 11:19:28 PM PST
by
GeronL
(Visit www.geocities.com/geronl)
To: GeronL
DENNIS MILLER: In this messed up world, I like seeing my President pray. I dont think a person can get answers out of books anymore. This is an infinitely complex world and at some point one has to have faith in ones religion. I find it endearing that President Bush prays to God and that hes not an agnostic or an atheist. Im glad theres someone higher that he has to answer to.
27
posted on
10/30/2003 11:25:57 PM PST
by
f.Christian
(evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
To: f.Christian
Better than someone who think he is God
28
posted on
10/30/2003 11:35:40 PM PST
by
GeronL
(Visit www.geocities.com/geronl)
To: scripter
Thank you. I'm currently in a "discussion" with my health ed prof. She ran the film "It's Elementary" on Wednesday. Opening my mouth during class would have meant a certain lynching, so after class I sent her an e-mail expressing my concern about the bigoted and stereotypical view of Christians displayed in the film.
I'm printing this article to show to her.
29
posted on
10/30/2003 11:36:21 PM PST
by
Dianna
To: GeronL
THIS JUST IN: Coalition troops have turned up documents written by Saddam Hussein, in which he refers to his sons as ...
Uday --- and Bubba.
30
posted on
10/30/2003 11:37:16 PM PST
by
f.Christian
(evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
To: Howlin
It is, no doubt, but will that deter the Olympians of the bench, who left the Constitution behind a while back?
31
posted on
10/30/2003 11:47:47 PM PST
by
AmericanVictory
(Should we be more like them, or they like us?)
To: Howlin
On appeal, there is NO WAY this stands up.
Joint custody w/ a non-involved person, 1st amendment issues; an obviously pro-homosexual activist decision.
This will get tossed out.
32
posted on
10/30/2003 11:48:15 PM PST
by
clee1
(Where's the beef???)
To: f.Christian
Uday and Bubba, haha
33
posted on
10/30/2003 11:49:32 PM PST
by
GeronL
(Visit www.geocities.com/geronl)
To: GeronL
The lone star one man party ...
I have one ... realitarian --- too !
34
posted on
10/31/2003 12:00:51 AM PST
by
f.Christian
(evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
To: GeronL
Uday and Bubba, haha
35
posted on
10/31/2003 12:05:22 AM PST
by
f.Christian
(evolution vs intelligent design ... science3000 ... designeduniverse.com --- * architecture * !)
To: f.Christian
Yes, I believe in one man, one party. I think there should be many more parties. =o)
36
posted on
10/31/2003 12:09:23 AM PST
by
GeronL
(Visit www.geocities.com/geronl)
To: scripter
Pressure needs to be put on congress and state houses to impeach these run away judicial totalitarians. Most of the nations deterioration can be laid at their door step. These anti-constitutional tyrants must be yanked from the bench.
To: scripter
If ever the tail undertook to wag the dog, this is it.
To: f.Christian
Is God homophobic? God certainly is not afraid of anything, but God does hate sin.
39
posted on
10/31/2003 1:21:14 AM PST
by
tessalu
To: scripter
Honorable John W. Coughlin Judge Coughlin was appointed to the Denver District Court bench in May 1985. He was appointed to the Denver County Court bench in 1980. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Coughlin served as a Deputy District Attorney, and then was in private practice in Denver, specializing in oil and gas law and in litigation. Judge Coughlin received his undergraduate degree from St. Mary's College in California and graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1972. Judge Coughlin currently hears civil cases. During the last eight years, he has also heard criminal and domestic relations cases, and he served in the Denver District Drug Court for a year. Judge Coughlin enjoys doing rotations in all of the Denver District Court divisions.
Judge Coughlin speaks at Bar Associations, and particularly enjoys talking with school-age children. He often takes case transfers from other judges when his docket clears. Judge Coughlin works to simplify discovery on the cases he handles, in order to improve the litigation system. Judge Coughlin's judicial philosophy is to respect everyone who comes into his court, including lawyers, parties, jurors and witnesses. For recreation, Judge Coughlin enjoys reading, walking, skiing and watching Rockies games.
40
posted on
10/31/2003 1:22:44 AM PST
by
wolficatZ
(___><))))*>____\0/____/|____"flipper to the rescue...")
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