School Finds Way to Persecute Christians Students NOT on Campus
The struggle between religious liberty and secular government schools has always been a source of contention in the United States, and it likely isn’t going away any time soon.
For example, a group of Christian moms in Middleton, Wisconsin, have been fighting their local school administration over something the school has called “divisive” — an off-campus, Christian lunch group.
Middleton High School decided to allow students to eat lunch off-campus, so in 2014, a small group of parents began offering home-cooked meals for students at a nearby park during their lunch hour, according to Fox News.
The weekly lunchtime gatherings have become known as “Jesus Lunch,” as the parents use the opportunity to give inspirational, Christian-themed messages to the kids.
“We show up every week just to show the love of Jesus,” parent Beth Williams told Fox News’ Todd Starnes. “Our mission statement for Jesus Lunch is ‘food for the body, nutrition for the soul.’”
The once small group has become quite large, with nearly 500 kids at times turning up for the assortment of food — such as Chick-fil-A sandwiches, fresh fruit and brownies — and talking freely about Christianity.
However, not everyone has been thrilled about the non-denominational lunches, and several school administrators have taken action to put an end to them.
Superintendent Donald Johnson and Principal Stephen Plank sent an email to parents on April 12, calling the off-campus religious gatherings “divisive.”
“We believe that religious or political events do not have a place in our school or on our campus, except when sponsored by a student group in accordance with our rules, which require prior approval,” the email read.
“You don’t tug on Superman’s cape and you don’t mess with a bunch of moms armed with homemade brownies.” https://t.co/2QX5Y3meZZ
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— First Liberty (@1stLiberty) April 16, 2016
The school district has accused the parents of violating food preparation rules. They implied the parents were putting their own children in danger by hosting the weekly picnics.
“Food of any kind that is served to students must be approved by the school/district to ensure food safety, cleanliness and health,” they wrote. “In addition, many students are subject to food allergies, so additional protocols must be followed to safeguard students with these conditions.”
Yes, because the mothers of these kids would put their children’s health in danger. Isn’t that just like a liberal to assume that the government knows how to feed kids better than the kids’ own parents?
Besides, the kids are allowed to eat off-campus, presumably anywhere they want — including fast food joints, such as McDonalds, whose food safety standards also aren’t under the control of the school board.
The parents have retained attorney Phillip Stamman to represent them while they figure out how to respond to the allegations and hostility from the school board.
“These are mothers,” he told Fox News. “They are spending all their time and effort to show love for these kids and now they are being attacked by a superintendent and principal — trying to intimidate them.”
Stamman believes that, despite what the school administrators claim, the mothers have been attacked not out of concern for food safety, but because of the religious message that has accompanied the lunches.
“The (school district) is going after them because they are spreading a religious message,” Stamman said. “They are upset because they are sharing Christianity.”
Unfortunately, Stamman is probably right — the hostility shown to these parents is because of their message, not their food. And they need us to stand with them while they fight a school administration that neither understands, nor respects religious liberty.