Bribing Kids to Accept Christ

That is the charge that the American Humanist Association has leveled against Operation Christmas Child. The humanist organization has threatened legal action against two public schools, East Point Academy in West Columbia, South Carolina and SkyView Academy in Highlands Ranch, Colorado for their participation in the annual drive sponsored by Samaritan's Purse.

The letter that both schools received called the program unconstitutional, saying, "Because the purpose and effect of Operation Christmas Child is to induce impoverished children to convert to Christianity, the school's promotion of this program violates the Constitution. The school must immediately suspend its unconstitutional participation in Operation Christmas Child." It went on to further say, "The boxes of toys are essentially a bribe, expressly used to pressure desperately poor children living in developing countries to convert to Christianity, and are delivered with prayers, sermons, evangelical tracts and pressure to convert. While a private religious group is free to pursue such a goal, even through such questionable means, a public school cannot affiliate itself with, endorse, promote or support such a group's program without violating the Establishment Clause."

The South Carolina elementary school has been involved in Operation Christmas Child since 2011. Renee Mathews, the school director, sent a letter to parents on November 12, 2013, informing them that the school wide community service project would be cancelled and that they would not be accepting boxes from students. Though participation in the drive is 100% voluntary and the boxes, filled with only non-religious items, are packed at home, the school doesn't want to risk a lawsuit.

The Colorado school also backed down to the demands made by the American Humanist Association and their "20,000 members and 125,000 supporters." A parent responded on topix.net to the decision, saying "Our School, Skyview Academy in Highlands Ranch, CO, also was forced to give in to thugs robbing my daughter, our school community and myself of our constitutional right to exercise our freedom of religion. They use a threat letter, in lieu of a gun, to force coercion and involuntary compliance to their illegal demands. The letter is to cease or be sued. Our school board had to make the decision to back down, or lose money fighting a lawsuit. When are we going to fight back against religious bullies, with a pervasive "anti"bullying campaign", like the progressives do so well? This isn't the end of this. They picked the wrong fight. I am livid my constitutionally guaranteed religious liberties are daily being robbed from me. I'm done being bullied."

Amen! Christianity has a huge target painted on its back here in the United States and every time you turn around, some "humanist" organization is threatening to sue someone over daring to have Christian values. If Christians in America don't start fighting for our rights, it won't be long before we have none.

Tags : Operation Christmas Child