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
Some people admire small children. They will tell you that it is biology, it is how they are made. They see children and wonder what it's like to have sex with them. Is this good? Should this type of thought be encouraged?
Is it possible that somehow, something was lost along the way in this particular translation? Esp. with the word "lust"? Maybe in Christ's time the Aramaic word for molestation was similiar to the Greek word describing "lust," and something was lost along the way to King James' Merrie Olde England.
Perhaps we are missing something. "Lust" is sinful. Even if directed at your spouse. Lust is a sinful preoccupation with sex, as to be distinguished from a healthy human desire for a spouse.
The point is that we should not be directing our mental energy towards objectifying other people as objects of lust.
SD
In case you haven't noticed some people in our society see nothing immoral with the things I listed. Your logic says the school must accept their actions since the the Contract didn't outline what an immoral act is.
And 'alone' doesn't mean alone.
Legality and morality are not the same and you know that. There are many legal activities that a Christian school or church need not tolerate.
Saw the same show you did, "Hookers at the Point" I think was the name of it. The problem with that is the fact that the ones who DID get out are no longer there to be interviewed. The ones who didn't are still around, giving the impression that they are the norm, rather than the exception.
Please. Obviously only the sociopathic would argue that sexual thoughts about prepubescent children should be encouraged. That's not what I'm talking about at all, and I'm surprised you brought it up.
Perhaps we are missing something. "Lust" is sinful. Even if directed at your spouse. Lust is a sinful preoccupation with sex, as to be distinguished from a healthy human desire for a spouse. The point is that we should not be directing our mental energy towards objectifying other people as objects of lust.
Perhaps we are on to something. Would it be possible to look at a stripper without lust?
I doubt the percentage of those who get in and out quickly is very high.
On a particularly rowdy night out with the "boys", we ended up in an after-hours nudie bar. I literally paid a stripper $20 to either put her clothes on, or stay on the opposite side of the walkway from me.
Repentance is the key to forgiveness. She hasn't repented, in fact, she has sought dilligently to justify her actions.
Why should she continue to perform acts for which she is ashamed?
She manipulates men's emotions and hormones for pay. She entices them into lust, therefore she helps them into sin. Obviously these men are volunteers, but that is besides the point. She should have no part in helping other people stumble.
Saw the show, don't recall anything of he sort.
People sign things all the time under duress, I thought I made that perfectly clear, that may or not be the case here, I don’t know.
I believe the real bottom line is this… Since this woman is not engaged in an illegal act and is breaking no known law a court must decide. This is not a church / state issue, this is a business matter, as these people are selling education in a free market and should govern themselves according to business laws which exclude discrimination.
The mother violated the contract. The school was willing to forgo a months tution and provide assistance to the mother if she immediately started honoring the contract again. She refused. The school took action it saw fit to protect the integrity of the school's teachings. I wish the mother cared more for the child than her easy paycheck but she didn't.
Now read carefully, if she wants to continue to strip, in this country it is her right. She can try and get another school to accept her child in class or she can enroll her child in public education. You are suggesting that the school (a private organization) must forgo it's first admentment rights and must be forced to associate with the parent. I don't care what the Christian teachings on this are, the school still enjoys the rights protected by the constitution. (not granted, just protected).
Funny, SCOTUS still seems to have a 'right of the people peaceably to assemble' in their copy of the Constitution. Ask the Boy Scouts.
I give the male species more credit than that..
I did hesitate. The point being inelegantly made was that just because something is "natural" or "biological" does not mean we should accept that it can not be changed or curtailed.
Perhaps we are on to something. Would it be possible to look at a stripper without lust?
Sure. I doubt that my wife would look at her with lust. One could look on in disgust or pity. I suppose one could have a scientific interest in the body.
But if one is going to a club to look at naked women, generally it is for the purpose of arousing sexual feelings.
I remember reading about a place in Iowa or somewhere like that where the town outlawed public nudity, except for artistic purposes. So the "Gentlemen's Club" became an "Art Studio" and everyone got a sketch pad and pencil when they came in.
SD
Pappy is saying that it is all prostitution and I tend to agree. Legallity isn't the question, it's the morality.
Where's all the libertarian bashers? Wouldn't they get a kick out of a Libertarian arguing FOR morality? Ha Ha.
oh come on....signing your kid up at a Christian school....that's signing something under duress? she signed the darn thing under her own free will, her own volition, for heaven's sake...she knew exactly what she was doing.
Honestly, I think it's great she wanted her kid to go to a Christian school....but I think the school (remember..we're talking private school, here...there are thousands of them....she can pick up & go anytime she ain't happy) has a right to expect her to keep up her part of the agreement....just as they are.
I wondered about this when I first heard the story. Sounds like to me the Mom didn't live up to the agreement she signed. At the same time, the school could've dealt with this in a better manner.
The one who is getting hurt in all of this is the little girl, not the mom or the school.
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