Pledge Banner Michael Newdow's Daughter a Christian

Chuck Smith, Calvary Chapel

[SkunkPunk]

Last night I attended Calvary Chapel in Fountain Valley, home of Pastor Chuck Smith, founder of the original Calvary Chapel. He told us that Michael Newdow's daughter is a born again Christian and attends a Calvary Christian school. Mr. Newdow was the atheist who brought the Pledge of Allegiance ban lawsuit to court claiming his daughter's rights were violated because of a reference to God in the pledge. Chuck Smith was told of this through a sister Calvary Chapel and got a hold of his contacts in the media. The daughter will now appear on the Today show later this week to denounce her fathers lawsuit. Calvary will release this information to the press later today.

[homeschool mama]

Are you saying it'd be better to throw caution to the wind and let them raise themselves? Kinda like wolves?

[homeschool mama]

www.calvarychapel.com/lagunacreek

:o)

[Saundra Duffy]

Hallelujah!

[homeschool mama]

**If either parent is approving of this 4th grader going on national television to denounce her father, that parent is sick and unconcerned with the child's best interests. Since a national TV network would obviously not be interviewing a child of this age without parental approval, and since the agenda behind the interview is consistent with the mother's religious beliefs, I can only conclude that this poor child is being used as a pawn by BOTH her parents -- the father who made her the center of a divisive lawsuit when she's obviously not old enough to have a genuine desire of her own to pursue it, and the mother who hauls her onto national TV to denounce her father. **

Perhaps you'd like to see for yourself. I understand the mother and quite possibly my pastor, will be on The Today Show, Tuesday morning.

[homeschool mama]

The mother and daughter are Christians. We fellowship at the same church.

[homeschool mama]

Watch The Today Show, Tuesday morning.

[savedbygrace]

How old is the girl now?

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

"...daughter will now appear on the Today show later this week to denounce her father's lawsuit..."

Will she go straight to the first Judge that she can find and sue to divorce herself from her parents ??

[homeschool mama]

I believe she's about 8 or 9.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I certainly have no objection to the mother making media appearances if she feels it's important to tell another side of the story. But the little girl should definitely not be participating in media appearances which will certainly involve harsh criticism of her father. She is not old enough to be making these decisions for herself, and thus her appearance would inevitably be the result of pressure from her mother, pastor, etc. To me, that is just adults using a child for their own purposes, and I think it's awful (that they may claim it's for God's purposes changes nothing).

On top of that, given that the parents are separated and obviously pursuing incompatible lives, it sounds as if there may be a custody dispute, either already, or about to be launched, and that presenting the child this way and teaching her to speak against her father in public is part of a strategy. Disgusting.

[CARepubGal]

Both parents are raving idiots IMHO. Dad for using the child as an excuse to file a frivolous lawsuit and Mom for using the kid as a battering ram in their (pretty darn obviously to me) pending Divorce. I knew hippies that had the good sense to keep the kids out of Mom & Dad's big ugly divorce type issues. The parents were friends by the time the kids hit Jr High. Even if Dad is a knuckle head, was it too much to ask for Mom to step in as an adult? I really don't understand fundies. Sorry guys.

[homeschool mama]

To my knowledge the child will not be on The Today Show. I could be wrong...but that's my understanding.

The mother has a right to make known the other side of the story. She's a decent woman so I'm not expecting anything negative.

The father used his daughter to further his atheistic agenda. In Florida and California he has filed suits to remove the name of God from anything governmental. This is just another attempt at doing so...unfortunately he used his daughter to do so (partially). The child has stated that she doesn't have a problem with saying *Under God* because she's believes in God.

[homeschool mama]

Perhaps you could wait to crucify both parents...hearing the whole story would help.

[homeschool mama]

** I really don't understand fundies. Sorry guys. **

I take that as an insult, Caligirl. This woman isn't a *fundie* as you claim. She's a Christian and mother who is going to be sharing the other side of the story. She has a right to do so and is not doing to further her *fundie* agenda or use her daughter as a battering ram.

To assume such things before you have full disclosure is unwise and foolish.

[frmrda]

I'm a bit torn here. You are absolutely correct that children need to have a strong foundation built on love and faith early in life. I think those who critize you about your kids not having a sense of the "real world", say that out of ignorance. Personally,I wouldn't choose homeschooling for my children, but I don't pretend to think it is the wrong choice for everyone, and in some cases it might even be better.

Still, there is a part of me that thinks there is some validity in letting your child experience meeting all different kinds of people, even ifsome of them may be bad influences,etc. Sometimes it is necessary to get your hands "dirty" and experience things that would be out of your realm if you are "sheltered". I'm not saying the kid should be out doing drugs, drinking, whoring around, etc. Just that you become a more complete person by experiencing a wide range of things.

That being said, you know far better than I what is good for your own children,and so long as you think its best keep it up and don't give in to naysayers. Good luck.

[McLynnan]

After the 9th Circuit ruling I saw the father being interviewed. He was asked how his daughter felt about the ruling and repeatedly said "let's leave her out of this". At the time I assumed he was attempting to shield her, but apparently he was trying to shield himself. What he has done to this little girl is heinous, and I can understand why the mother would want to go on the record with the child's story. I doubt she wants the "girl who had the Pledge declared unconstitutional" label hanging around her neck for the rest of her life.

[homeschool mama]

**Still, there is a part of me that thinks there is some validity in letting your child experience meeting all different kinds of people, even ifsome of them may be bad influences,etc. Sometimes it is necessary to get your hands "dirty" and experience things that would be out of your realm if you are "sheltered". I'm not saying the kid should be out doing drugs, drinking, whoring around, etc. Just that you become a more complete person by experiencing a wide range of things. **

As homeschoolers, we have a wonderful opportunity to delve into the *real world*! We don't remain in our caves :o) all day with no sunshine or orange juice. (I say that tongue in cheek)

My daughter is very active in the community. In any given week she's visiting a convalescent home offering youth to the elderly folks, competing in a track meet (with..gasp..public schooled, private schooled, and homeschooled youth), weeding the garden of our gay neighbors for pay, rollerblading down the culdesac with neighborhood kids, attending youth group, slumber parties, swim afternoons, basketball practice (competitive league).

Her schooling provides her with a nurturing environment and one on one tutoring...add an outside Spanish class and writing class (with other homeschooled kiddos), coop classes in science...and you have a well rounded child.

Sheltered? Nope.

[homeschool mama]

I believe you're right, McLynnan. Thank you.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The article leading this thread said the daughter would appear on the Today Show (and didn't even mention the mother appearing). I hope the article is wrong.

As for an 8 year old "believing in God", with all due respect, 8 year olds believe whatever the people around them tell them to believe. If they've got two competing claims, they're not making the choice based on their own "beliefs", but either from secondary information ("the people I like better say we should believe X, so I do"), or from a calculated desire to please somebody in one camp ("I live with Mommy, and Mommy would be mad at me if I said I didn't believe, so I say I believe"). You won't find any 8 year olds in Saudi Arabia who believe Jesus Christ is their personal savior, because there aren't any adults around them in that camp; the reason you find them here isn't because they "believe" it, but because it's a camp they've been exposed to. Real belief in anything comes at a much later age.

[homeschool mama]

**Real belief in anything comes at a much later age. **

I respectfully disagree.