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
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.
She had a choice and chose to strip instead of ensure her daughters education at this private institution. You ain't gotta like the choice, but it's still there.
There are always difficult situations. The school is not punishing the daughter, it is pushing the mother to a crisis so she can change her life - kind of like helping an alcoholic hit bottom.
What if a parent commits murder - should the state not incarcerate the parent because doing so would cause the child to be pulled out of her local school with only one month left to go?
The school has bent over backwards to be able to keep the child. The mother seems to actually want an issue with which to smear the school. She has no interest in following G-d. She may have planned for something like this to happen from the beginning.
It is unfortunate that the child will suffer for a season, but that is in G-d's hands and He will redeem the suffering.
Shalom.
for what?
Even here on FR there are those who cross the lines. If they change their ways (repent) they can came back on. If not, they get banned.
Yes, I have formed an opinion based on the information available. I didn't accuse the school of double standards with a complete lack of prove. Instead I read the article, watched the interview on O'Reilly and used my limited knowledge of the law to draw a rational and defendable conclusion.
The parent signed a contract that as the article states: 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.
The women then became a stripper. As Gussied Up said so well in post 307 "It is ludicrous to suggest that a Christian school would consider stripping a 'moral' act and laughable to attempt to defend it as such.
The school offered to provide it's service free to the parent (a months free tuition) offered to assist in finding a new job and even offered to provide spiritual help. They kept it quiet (I am assuming because they didn't want to hurt the child or embarrass the mother). The mother went to the press and started a ruckus.
It is apparent to even the most uniformed observer that the parent violated the contract. But instead of respecting the law, you would rather the school forfeit its right to peaceful assembly and the free exercise of religion.
Sorry buddy, I like those rights and am not so ready to see them dismissed because a women cares more about a relatively easy, well-paying job that clearly is not in keeping with Christian standards (the only reason Christian standards are important is because it's part of the contract) than the education of her child at a PRIVATE institution.
"I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to asociate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler -- not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are in the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES." I Corinthians 5:9-13.
I get very tired of the "Judge not" crowd misinterpreting scripture.
I get tired of those Christians that fall for it. We are told we will judge the angels, how much more so should we judge between each other.
The world outside the faith is God's to judge, but it is a shame to us not to fulfill our first duty to God and cast out the unbeliever, and the unrepentent from amoung us.
I"m sure yo missed the exchange on TV yesterday between her and a school official where she seems to have gone to schoo without undergarments and revealing shorts and exposed herself 'accidently' to a grade school boy by bending over. In fact, she was the one that brought up the issue of not wearing underwear to the school, not the school official who seemed embarrassed to ahve to discuss it on national TV. Mom, it seemed, enjoyed the exposure, but that seems to be part of her personality, doesn't it?
So she can make minimum wage, or welfare and never see her daughter and turn her (daughter) over to a stranger to raise. your point is understood but as a wise man once said...
"you can be so heavenly conscious, you are no earthly good."
If you define a Christian as one of Christ's disciples, not many Christians fall for it.
If you define a Christian as one who has memorized a few Bible verses and found a church that will make him/her feel good no matter how he/she lives, many fall for it.
Jesus came to restore justice to the earth. Justice implies love, but sometimes it's tough love.
Shalom.
I've always thought the same thing. Many women marry for money. There's not a whole lot of difference between a women who chase, date, and marry rich men, with their money being a lure, and spend $2000 per day of their husband's money; and women who are honest about it, work in a strip club and make $2000 a night, and don't even hit the sack for it. :^) And lots of women chase men with money!
Yes or no.
You have decided that she can either dance or work minimum wage. I am sure that God could find a solution to her problem if she would seek God first instead of seeking her own way first.
I have absolutely no problem stating categorically that her job is not godly in any way, shape or form. She disgraces herself for money. She even claims to not be proud (ashamed) of what she does. Even her own conscience tells her she is wrong.
Do you really thnk that Jesus would recommend this line of work for one of his followers with a small child?
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.