Judge to Christian mom: No 'homophobic' teaching

WorldNetDaily ^ | 10/31/2003

[WillRain]

A Colorado mother is appealing a child custody decision in which a court barred her from teaching homosexuality is wrong.

Cheryl Clark, who says she is a Christian, has been ordered by Denver County Circuit Judge John W. Coughlin to "make sure that there is nothing in the religious upbringing or teaching that the minor child is exposed to that can be considered homophobic."

The directive arose from the decision to award joint parenting responsibilities for her daughter to a practicing homosexual.

"Forbidding the raising of children in the parent's Christian beliefs is an anathema to parental rights and religious freedom," said Mathew D. Staver, president and general counsel of Florida-based Liberty Counsel. "Must the mother rip out pages of the Bible that say homosexuality is against nature, or must she cover her child's ears if her pastor preaches about sexual purity?"

Staver explained to WorldNetDaily Clark and Elsey McLeod were in a lesbian relationship that broke up after Clark became a Christian and concluded homosexual behavior was wrong.

The Denver court gave McLeod joint custody of Clark's adopted daughter, Emma, even though McLeod had no legal relationship to the girl. It also, in conjunction with the ruling in favor of McLeod, said Clark cannot raise her child with any religious teaching or upbringing that is "homophobic."

Staver said courts cannot "give parents a no-win decision of either abandoning their Christian beliefs or abandoning their children."

The definition of "homophobic," Staver noted, is "all across the board," from being fearful of homosexuals to disagreeing with their lifestyle.

"It takes no stretch of the imagination to envision a judge finding the mother in contempt of court for merely teaching her daughter about the Biblical truths on homosexuality," he said.

Liberty Counsel filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the mother in her case before the Colorado Court of Appeals.

Staver notes the U.S. Supreme Court has long held that the Constitution guarantees the freedom to "worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience." Similarly, he said, the high court has acknowledged "the values of parental direction of the religious upbringing and education of our children in their early and formative years have a high place in our society."

Another troubling aspect of this case, he said, is the award of visitation and joint parenting responsibilities to a third-party who has no legal relationship to the daughter or the mother.

The decision, according to Staver, stands in direct conflict with precedent throughout the country that denies visitation to a third party based solely on that person's prior sexual relationship with the legal parent.

Staver told WND he is not aware of any similar cases in the U.S., although there have been some in which a judge has told a parent not to say anything degrading about the other parent's lifestyle.

None, to his knowledge, however, have gone to the extent of Coughlin, issuing a directive that restricts a parent's religious practice.

[WillRain]

Eye-yi-yi-yi-yi.

Just when you think the judiciary can't get any more hostile...

[gridlock]

Are there any Biblical injunctions against Lesbianism? I was not aware of any.

[theDentist]

I truly think if he'd said that to me I'd tell him to "F Off".

[Terridan]

Surely, this "judge" has overstepped his boundaries...
No way ANYONE has the right to tell you what you can or cannot say in the country. (I must be dreaming)

[Labyrinthos]

Why exactly is this breaking news? It happened yesterday, there is no ongoing drama, and the story has already been posted several times this morning under various threads.

[CSM]

Might as well just start handing the kiddies off to the state to raise. When a parent's ability to teach to their morality is infringed upon, then the parent's ability to parent is taken away!

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Are there any Biblical injunctions against Lesbianism?

Well, in the Old Testament, the Jews are looked upon with great favor, which means that the Lebanese (as well as the Egyptians and the Syrians) were not.

[ArGee]

The directive arose from the decision to award joint parenting responsibilities for her daughter to a practicing homosexual.

Would they give joint custody to a Christian and a Satanist?

If you ask me, the Colorado Courts need a good spanking.

Shalom.

[The Great RJ]

I suppose it would be OK to teach the kid how to be a prostitute, take drugs or steal, but oh no we can't let them be exposed to that bigotted Christianity.

[Sloth]

Romans 1:26-27a -- "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature; likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful..."

[pabianice]

So it's happened. Judges can now order parents how to raise their children.

Unless we can release the Left's death-grip on the judiciary, we are royally screwed.

[TomServo]

3rd posting..

[ladyinred]

This is an outrage! How dare these judges tell parents what to teach their children!

Hope David Limbaugh is seeing this, he can add it to his very long list of persecution of Christians!

[m1-lightning]

I don't understand. Someone please explain to me how a judge has authority to make whatever "laws" he wants. The 1st amendment only protects us from Congress. How can the Bill of Rights protect us from a judge who wants to abridge free speech?

[Van Jenerette]

For class reading. Thanks.

[keithtoo]

Romans: v[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. [26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet[meet definition: fitting or proper].

[mcg1969]

Yes. Admittedly, in Scripture male homosexuality is condemned more explicitly. Nevertheless, it is clear from this passage in Romans 1 that lesbianism is also deemed a product of societal immorality. The way this passage reads in context suggests something like, "Things had gotten so far out of hand that even women became gay," as if somehow lesbianism an indicator of the absolute worst moral decay.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

[maestro]

Colorado is ABA Heaven.......it's courts/judges are always PC correct!

Check out the historic record.

Lawyers ski party warming up?

(Bring PC tax money)

/sarcasm

[Zack Nguyen]

Romans 1:26, "Because of this God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another."

Biblically, homosexual behavior is all sinful - man/man or woman/woman.