Posted on 05/17/2002 3:36:51 AM PDT by L.N. Smithee
Friday, May 17, 2002
Stripper mom: I'm following the Bible
Mother says high-paying job gives her time to teach daughter values
The mother of a 5-year-old California girl facing expulsion from the Christian school she attends acknowledges her job as a stripper is not one to be proud of, but says her work allows her time to follow the Bible by being a "hands-on" parent.
As WorldNetDaily reported yesterday, the mother, Christina Silvas, was called into a conference at Capital Christian School in Sacramento after school officials became aware that she works as a part-time strip-tease dancer at a local club.
Rick Cole, senior pastor of Capital Christian Church, which sponsors the school, and other staff members met with Silvas to discuss their contention that her occupation is in violation of an agreement with and commitment to the school philosophy that parents must sign before the children are admitted as students. Her daughter would have to be removed, she was told, if Silvas did not quit her job.
The officials offered to cover the girl's last month's tuition of $400 if Silvas would change jobs. They also offered to support Silvas both financially and spiritually, and to help her find a different job that was in keeping with the school's values. Silvas declined the offer.
As a requirement for admission, parents of prospective students must sign a "commitment" to support the philosophy of the school. That philosophy, in part, reads: "Emphasis is placed on learning about God and the truths of God's Word in relationship to man and his world; recognizing that the way to God comes through personal faith in Jesus Christ; and Christian maturity comes by application of the truths of the Bible in all areas of life." In signing the document, parents agree to maintain a "partnership" with the school "regarding the standards and criteria of a Christian learning structure that involves the entire family."
According to reporter George Franco of KOVR-TV, Silvas has retained legal counsel and is considering filing a motion for an immediate injunction to have the child remain in school while the mother continues to work as a stripper.
Last night, Cole and Silvas discussed the matter with Bill O'Reilly, host of "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News Channel.
"We have appealed to her to change her occupation," Cole told O'Reilly, adding that "God would bless" such a decision.
While Silvas said she agrees with the school's philosophy, she sidestepped the question of whether she considered her occupation a "sinful lifestyle."
"I am just doing it for a season," Silvas reasoned, adding, "I'm not proud of what I'm doing."
Silvas argued that since her job takes her away for only three days a week – the days her daughter, Abby, is with her father – she is therefore available to be "the one to teach [Abby] the Bible at home," thus upholding her commitment to partner with the school in her daughter's education.
"The Bible calls on parents to be hands-on," Silvas told O'Reilly. She sees her situation as better than that of a single mother who puts her child in daycare for several hours a day.
When asked if it was fair that the school's actions were, in effect, punishing the daughter, Cole put the responsibility for the expulsion on the mother.
"My concern is, who is the cause of this consequence?" he asked. "The consequence of [Silvas'] choice is affecting her daughter adversely."
None of the participants in the televised segment talked about the possibility of litigation. Silvas did mention, however, that she hoped to find a new job soon and that people outside Capital Christian Church had offered to help her find work.
Previous story:
Kindergartener's stripper-mom in church-school flap
That's an interesting question. So far, no one has been identified. It would be interesting to know if there was some sort of action against someone who may have seen Silvas in action. But we will cross that bridge when we come to it.
Then please allow a woman to answer you. No, in fact, my life has been much too full of impropriety. But my response to it has been the asking of forgiveness and stopping behaviors that are sinful. I will never have this under control until I meet Jesus face to face, but He was given me the responsiblity here on earth to seek His forgiveness and accept His power to overcome the sin.
You are correct. I do not have the right to judge any person. Only God does. However, He does, in His word, give me not only the right, but the responsibility, to judge the actions of others, based on the principles in His word. Only God knows this woman's heart. But her actions are wrong in accordance with God's word. The school is entirely in its right to condemn her behavior. They also offered her help and she rejected it.
You're kidding, right?
Tell me about it!
Since men participate in homosexual activities, you you also say it is hypocritical of men to condemn homosexual activities?
Yes, the church should be in the world, where life is particularly sinful. However, this is a school where very suspectible and impressionable children are sent for a Christian education. Churches should be ministering to the world, but not on the backs of their children. My daughter is a case in point. She goes to a Christian school and her best friend there is a worldly youth whose mother sounds like this one. She was taken in by her Godly aunt and uncle, but her lifstyle is wild. I pay a ton of tuition, which I can barely afford, and my daughter has access to "family values" that relates closer to the proverbial alley cat. I feel deeply for this girl and her family, but I don't like what my family has had to go through because of the school's accommodation. If it were just me, or the adults in me family, I would consider this a part of our ministry. But my receptive daughter is taking in a whole other way of looking at the world that is at variance to Christian standards. That's what ministry is about, not Christian education!
Not a chance with this taliban style action. I don't honor the mothers profession but I sure feel for the child being punished and disgraced in front of her friends. They could have waited till the end of the year and told her not to come back. I feel these people are making a little girl pay for her mother's transgressions.
I will bet these same "Cristians" won't let this little girl play with their kids. I had kids not allowed to play with me because I was Catholic. I guess it is Ok to be in a topless bar but not a Catholic church.
2. I think it is unfair to blame lusting thought of her customers on her. Must of the bible passages that you cited seem to imply that it is her fault that the customers lust after her. It's their sin.
3. Regardless, what she is doing is not in sync with traditional Christian teachings. She signed the form, the school has every right to kick her and her kid out.
4. She's a fox. The guy who left her must be an idiot.
Quit lying. Not even Silvas has said anything like that has happened, and we would not be talking about this at all if Silvas hadn't sobbed to the media.
For that matter, if Silvas had accepted Capital's offer and gotten other employment to bring her out of the strip world -- thus allowing her child to finish her education -- we wouldn't be talking about it then, either. It wouldn't be "news."
There are legitimate charges and criticisms to be leveled. Overly broad statements, such as this, are uncalled for.
I am with the school on the issue. They are a private organization and are free to set their rules and allow in and kick out students as they see fit.
Though with only a month left in the school year they should have allowed the girl to finish the year and told the mother to find a new school for next year elsewhere.
Though with the vague language of the 'code' the school is citing there is innumerable jobs or activities that the school could claim to be unacceptable. Their wording should be more specific and they should come up with a definitive list of occupations that are not allowed.
Honest? Legal, yes.
No put down intended, but it is quite apparent that you don't have a grasp of Christian spiritual values. Do you really think that Jesus is encouraging her to do this and that he cannot open doors for her to find a better job? Oh yeah, the school already offered her help, but she refused it!
IMO, she enjoys what she does and getting a lawyer about this proves her stubbornness and unrepentance.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.