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
Nice diversionary tactic. Trying to justify the mother’s actions because, hey, we all do it.
This school has rules. The mother violated the rules. The school and church offered to pony up money to help her make things right. The mother refused. The school followed through on disciplinary actions.
No one is trying to make the argument that we are perfect. Why do you want people to air their dirty laundry to you? So you can then smugly attack them and attempt to silence them?
I’m a man. I have been guilty of the things you mention above. So what? What does that have to do with this particular situation? Does that mean that I should not even attempt to live right? Does that mean that I am not allowed to have the opinion that this mother has done more harm to her child, will do more harm to this child, then the school has ever thought of doing?
-Kevin
Then she has made her decision, has she not? She had the choice between following the Christian values she supposedly wants her child to have, or to follow the money. She went for the money.
And it's all good to say "sure we'll help you financially", but I've gotten offers for financial help too. Let's just say they usually don't come through.
I don't see an indication that their offer to help was insincere.
SD
Pastor Rick et al should look up the verse wherein the Savior states that one who would offend little children would be better off being thrust into the sea with a millstone around his neck.
And, speaking of stones, it would appear that the good pastor and his band could believe that the biblical Jesus, after admonishing the mob who sought to stone the harlot ("Let him who is without sin throw the first stone"), suddenly struck the woman in the head with a large rock and, as she lay dying, turned and winked at the mob.....
I'm telling you WIFE! :)
BigMack
Yes, surely. But just as surely you wouldn't expect these "good" folks to do that.
My sympathies are entirely with the child. The mother got exactly what she should have expected when she placed this important portion of her child's upbringing in the hands of the Pecksniffian outer reaches of the Christian community.
From the article:
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.
Where do you find that this meant they were only going to pay the last month’s tuition for the child? Sounds more like they are willing to help meet the mother’s monthly financial needs until she finds a more appropriate career.
-Kevin
You are aware that this differs from what Jesus said? That looking at a woman with lust is the same as actually committing adultery?
SD
What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be busy sending your son out to threaten some more pastors for not paying their bills? ;^)
-Kevin
Dyslexic stripper moms of the world untie!
And yes, I don't believe you. I'd like to meet these supposed strippers who are "just doing it to earn money for college". I doubt they even exist, anywhere.
I know I'm going to bang a beehive with a stick here, but honestly, I have a hard time believing JC actually said this. It seems so lacking in common sense, when everything else he's purported to say is so grounded in simple, common, easily-understood principles.I know it's in the Bible et al: I'm not disputing the fact that people say/think/"know" he said it, but this has always been the ONE thing, to me, that simply doesn't make sense.
I know all about adultery---it happened to me---and it SURE AS HELL doesn't equal merely looking at a woman and thinking that yes, perhaps she'd be good in bed. Flame away.
That's what's so dangerous about the entire field. It gives you money like you never dreamed, but it rots your soul unless you are one of the few who really enjoys the work, and want to do it forever. Silvas claims she's not proud of the job, but she would rather continue in it for the money. Well, when is she ever not going to need money? She's all but admitted she's going to quit -- but when will she if not when people offered help?
Years ago, back when I was addicted to daytime talk shows, there was a Sally Jessy Raphael program on strippers, talking frankly about their job. There were about eight interviewed, and the last one introduced on the panel was a thirtysomething mother of a teenage girl, whom she said she was grooming to follow in her footsteps. You know who gave that stripping mom the hardest criticism? The other strippers! They said that they got into it for the money and the money was too good to quit, but that she should want something better for her daughter. The stripping mom was nearly brought to tears, thinking she had been blindsided by people she thought would be on her side.
I guess we are just going to have to disagree. I view stripping and watching women strip as actions that are inherently sinful, unless of course it is a wife stripping for her husband, but that’s a whole ‘nother thread. ;^)
Oh, and just for argument’s sake, I am not a good person. If I were then I wouldn’t have needed a Savior. ;^)
-Kevin
They offered to pay until the end of the school year, which is one more month. Maybe they would pay more if the school year continued past June, maybe they wouldn't. The point the school was making was that the girl could stay in school this year without the mom paying tuition if she quit her job.
I'm completely behind the church school on this one.
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