Teens sue Riverside evangelical school over lesbian suspicions

AP ^ | 12/29/5

[SmithL]

Riverside -- Two 16-year-old girls who were expelled from a private Lutheran high school because they were suspected of being lesbians have sued the school for invasion of privacy and discrimination.

The lawsuit, filed last week in Riverside County Superior Court, seeks the girls' re-enrollment at the tiny California Lutheran High School, unspecified damages and an injunction barring the school from excluding gays and lesbians.

The suit could be a test case in the state on whether religious schools can deny enrollment to gays and lesbians, said Richard Ackerman, a lawyer who is president of Temecula's Pro-Family Center, which focuses on lawsuits dealing with conservative Christian values.

"There's no established law on this issue," said Ackerman, who's not involved in the current litigation. "It's very likely this will be a precedent-setting case."

Kirk D. Hanson, co-counsel for the girls, said the expulsion traumatized and humiliated them.

"Their entire support network was pulled out from under them because of suspicions about their sexual orientation," said Hanson, who declined to say if his clients were lesbians.

[connectthedots]

"Their entire support network was pulled out from under them because of suspicions about their sexual orientation," said Hanson, who declined to say if his clients were lesbians.

They will have to answer that question under oath in depositions; something their lawyers likely haven't told them about, or the penalties for perjury.

[ccwoman]

Bismark, I do believe that Christian Schools have the right to be Christian. I do not believe they should single out certain behaviors. Jesus said the greatest commandments were, "to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind"..."And to love thy neighbor as thyself". How many of the students or teachers are following those to a "T"?

[luckystarmom]

I think if a student is openly doing something that is against the private school's code of conduct then the private school should be able to expel a student.

For example, if a private school has a policy against swearing then the private school has a right to expel a student. I would hope that if it was an accidental slip up, the school would give someone another chance. However, if it happens all the time then I think a private school should be able to expel for that reason.

[ccwoman]

of course they have a right to expel students for violating their code of conduct. I am in agreement with that. I am just not sure that the girl's sexual orientation is any worse than many of the other "sins" that are occurring in that or any other "private Christian" school.

[fwdude]

I am just not sure that the girl's sexual orientation is any worse than many of the other "sins" that are occurring in that or any other "private Christian" school.

You're completely missing the point made by others in this thread. Mere sexual orientation doesn't seem to be the issue; how would orientation come to light unless evidenced by BEHAVIOR? In otherwords, how does this suspicion exist unless the girls have been engaging in obvious behavior or are defending the lifestyle as acceptable? And, as others have said, sinning is one thing - justifying and celebrating a sin (something that is consistently done in that movement) is quite another. And Jesus did single out sexual sin as particularly serious, saying is was uniquely a sin against one's own body and that one should flee from it.

[kindred]

[why can't private schools deny admission to anybody for any reason ?]

They can, and the homosexual advocates hate that 1st ammendment right. You might call this a seperation of the individual powers of church and state.
The left is destroying all things they hate, and will do so as long as they have government authority behind them.Christian schools are the last safe haven of children they intend to recruit.

[kindred]

[... Since they aren't morally pure themselves, they shouldn't be judging others' behavior. Expulsion and other serious punishments should be for drug/ alcohol offenses, fighting, and other serious offenses, not students' sex lives.]

Perhaps you don't understand. The private schools have the right and duty to set standards and rules that children must obey and parents must honor, the Bible has moral standards that God has written in stone for the people who believe Him and His Holy Child Jesus. These are called the ten commandments and 5 are for a man's relationship to God,5 are for man's relationship to other men; they were written on stone that it may be "well with men". The community of Christians believe that our Father knows best and we follow these moral standards that the Lord God may bless us and that it may be well with us. One of these commandments is about fornication that states it is a sin against a man's own soul to have sex outside the marriage bed; the most awful of these is the practice of homosexuality that destroys both soul and body. Christians believe in God's commandments and we follow all laws unless they violated His commandments for good and moral and healthy living. Those who do not believe the Lord God are called the heathen by bible believing Christians, of which we were once before we knew the truth of God and received forgiveness of our personal sins by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and His triumph over death, hell and the grave when he who was without sin died for our sins and rose from the grave on the third day so that we may have new life in and by faith of the only sinless and pure man in all history, the God man Christ Jesus, the one true intercessor between God and men. Now that we are saved sinners according to God's will and God's word, we follow after the moral will and rules of the one true Creator God so that He will bless us. Homosexuality is an abomination to God as it neglects and trods under foot the will of God for man, namely the family unit; one man, one woman and the fruit of the womb and the blessing of God , children.
The heathen hate God and His good will for their own lives and will always rage against the will of God for their lives and, unfortunately, take pleasure in those who rebel against God and Christ.
We raise our Children with in the moral frame work of God's will and we most certainly have the right to do so. Homosexuality is an abomination to God and we will defend our children from the heathen influences when we must and we will if necessary.
Atheists can raise their children as they fit, but all will answer to God in the person of Christ Jesus at the judgment seat.

[Dumb_Ox]

"What is not prohibited is mandatory."

[ccwoman]

The lawsuit alleges that the school's principal, Gregory Bork, called the girls into his office and grilled them on their sexual orientation and "coerced" one girl to say she loved the other one. Bork did not immediately return a call left on his work voicemail.

The next day, the suit says, Bork told the girls' parents they could not stay at the school with "those feelings." In a Sept. 12 letter to the parents, Bork acknowledged officials had seen no physical contact between the girls but said their friendship was "uncharacteristic of normal girl relationships and more characteristic of a lesbian one."

[baldeagle390]

I am a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)and I teach in one of the sister schools of California Lutheran High School. As many of you have already posted the WELS believes that the Bible is the Word of God. I am going to reserve judgement on this case since the only people quoted are the attorneys for the expelled girls. In my experience, having taught in two WELS schools, students are not immediatly expelled even for the reasons mentioned in the article. Students are usually counseled and are expected to meet with their pastor. After a certain period of time the student must decide their position in the matter. If the student still feels they have done no wrong then they are expelled. I just cannont believe that a principal called these ladies into his office an then expelled them 15 minutes later. Once again, in my experience, students in the WELS are expelled only after an unrepentant attitude. This is the final act of love as we will not allow that attitude to infuse into the student body.

[ccwoman]

baldeagle..thank you for writing, your explanation makes me feel much more at ease!! If the girl had been treated the way you described then expulsion is the right choice but to simply expel because of rumors is outrageous. The Dean being the only one to speak with girls is also very wrong. In mho

[fwdude]

The lawsuit, filed last week in Riverside County Superior Court, seeks the girls' re-enrollment at the tiny California Lutheran High School, unspecified damages and an injunction barring the school from excluding gays and lesbians. (emphasis added)

Sounds kind of like the homosexual issue is already well established in the very wording of the lawsuit. I think this has already gone way past suspicion (and precludes any indication of repentant attitudes.)

[Accygirl]

One of my best guy friends in high school was gay, and he was a much better Catholic than I was so I don't think that holiness or who is a better Christian is an issue. Frankly, I think that it's horrible that they're singling out these two girls for Scarlett Letters when there's probably more than enough immoral behavior of the heterosexual sex/ underage drinking variety going on in that school.

[ccwoman]

whoo-hoo accygirl..exactly!!!

[baldeagle390]

" there's probably more than enough immoral behavior of the heterosexual sex/ underage drinking variety going on in that school."

True enough (unfortunately). The difference in this case is that of a persistent public violation of Scriptural principles. If a student would be underage drinking and continue to so insisting that it is her right, then that student would be expelled as well. The same goes with premarital sex.The same goes with persistent classroom disruptions, theft. etc.

I will also add to my previous post. If the description of the expulsion is accurate, then the principals actions were a clear violation of Biblical guidelines for confronting sin. These guidelines are very clear. First, the person must be counseled in private. If there is no resolution then the person should be counseled along with another person. If there is still no resolution the matter is made public and ultimately could involve expulsion. This could take weeks or months. Each school has its own procedures for following these guidelines, nevertheless, they must be followed. This is why I do not believe the the account of the lawyer is accurate. If the description of events is accurate then the principal is accountable for his actions to a higher authority. In this case the Board of Directors.

[Accygirl]

They don't even know if the two girls are gay. From what I gather, the principal of the school decided to humiliate these two girls for no reason because he's a small-minded, prejudiced person.

However, even if they were gay, I don't think that that's a sin, especially not a sin worthy of expulsion.

[gitmo]

Most people that committing "other sins" don't try to convince others that their sin is acceptable.

That's the difference. Christians generally understand human weakness. "We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God." And we are excited when sinners (a group that includes all of us) repent and turn from their wicked ways.

But to try to force the Church to accept sin and to declare it respectable is intolerable.

[ccwoman]

If the expulsion took place the way the lawyer states, I would definitely be seeking legal action. Has the principal been around teenagers at all? Heck, it is a "normal" stage for teenage girls to hang on each other, they often appear to be gay!! I have worked with teenagers for many many years and believe me girls will act as if they are attached at the hip and cannot even breath without their best friend..but they are not gay!!
It is very possible the girl were only seeking to sue for the embarrassment and expulsion. The lawyer could have tacked on the injunction to serve his own purpose. Plus teenagers will jump onto a bandwagon claiming to be all sorts of things that they are not (wiccan, vegetarian, goth) just for the attention.

[Accygirl]

You'd think that a high school principal would know this, but I guess that ferreting out evil gay infiltrators is more important than seeing to his students' well being.

[flaglady47]

However, even if they were gay, I don't think that that's a sin, especially not a sin worthy of expulsion.

Well, you obviously are not of the Christian faith, and/or don't believe in biblical teachings. However, those that administrate that LUTHERAN high school, do believe in the bible, and do teach the Christian faith. They also are a PRIVATE organization, not a public one, and therefore have the right to do as they please regarding their "clientele", and their behavior.

I suspect highly that if a couple of heterosexual students were overt in unseemly behavior, they too would be reprimanded or expelled at some point if the behavior did not stop. Example, engaging in long passionate kisses and getting handsy in the hallways between classes. How long do you think that would be tolerated? And I'll bet those students don't swear much in that school, at least not where they can be heard by anyone in authority, as that would not be tolerated either. Either you are choosing to go to that school and are willing to abide by its rules, or you aren't. If you aren't, you choose another school.

These kids could go to a public school where most bad behavior is now tolerated, and let's see how those kids turn out when they reach adulthood. Probably another gay couple adopting non-gay children and then warping their children into further acceptance of their "lifestyle." Lesbians are a minute percentage of the population, if 1/2 of one percent, I'd be surprised. Probably less. So, for that deviancy, and it is a deviancy, including their behavior, everyone else should be forced to accept their lifestyle, whether they agree with it or not. The usual tyranny of the minority.

So, let's say the Lutheran school loses in court. This, of course, would be a flagship case, probably go all the way up to the Supreme Court, where Justice Kennedy (if Alito gets on the court) will become the new swing vote, and will probably side with the girls. Now you will have established law, and all religious schools will end up pretty much having to accept any overt behavior that students might choose to engage in, or risk being hauled into court. Effectively, you no longer would have religious schools; rather, public schools operating under the guise of being religious ones. Religious schools then would have 2 choices, accept the edict of the court, or close shop. I for one, would like to see ALL of the religious schools close shop in protest of such a decision, and then let's see what would happen. In my opinion, relgious schools cannot allow this precedent to be set, or they lose their character entirely, the first amendment would be breached bigtime, and it would mean that the courts dictate what private businesses can and cannot do, all or any of them.

So, bottom line, don't be so quick to be so liberal about these two girls' behavior, and you know it had to be overt or it wouldn't have come to anyone's attention. The chain of events that would follow could be devastating, both to religious institutions, and to our country's values. The devil will have won, and our country will continue its long and continuing decline into moral decay. And our country will be legislated by the courts, not the will of the people. We are losing our country, one accepted deviant behavior at a time.