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.
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Kindergartener's stripper-mom in church-school flap
Every strip joint that I have seen has very strict rules. You touch the women, you are OUT OF THERE!
Actually, when I travel around the world and end up in some unusual cities, a stripper bar is the safest place for me to be. They always have a huge bouncer to insure that the women are protected.
How is that different than an athalete using his or her natural talents to make a living? A football player or a boxer? Both are known to be terribly dangerous sports.
Mark
Oh, you mean the "Good Mother Who Wants Her Daughter Taught To Do The Right Thing But Does The Wrong Thing And Justifies It By Saying I Was Doing The Wrong Thing So You Could Learn To Do The Right Thing" side?
It's a good question. But she's not targeting her daughter's father. She's going after the school.
Why do you think that is?
What, like a woman that gets married? You know, she gets her husband's income, a house, a car, etc....
And as long as what she is doing is not hurting anyone, you still have no right to judge, I believe that is left up to God. But thanks for calling.
hence the "what if" sceanrio I preceded it with.
I was just wondering if your position was that a "good mother" will do whatever she had to do to keep a child out of daycare, spend more time with the child, etc., yet at the same time do "whatever" to make enough money to be able to do all that. Stripping is what this mom chose....maybe another "good mom" would see the benefits of dealing drugs which would bring in tons of $$$ and provide her with the means to stay home with the child.
That isn't the issue. The question is, what if other people do have a problem?
She can make all the profit she likes, and if she can find some school that -- mistakenly -- thinks that stripping is compliant with Christian values, she can enroll her kid in that school. Capital Christian Center is NOT one of those.
If that's what being married means to you, I hope you aren't.
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