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May 02, 2007

Abused Kids Forced into Baptist Religion

Several abused and neglected children of a variety of faiths (Catholic, Pentacostal, Jehovah's Witness, and atheist) have come forward saying that while staying in the state-funded Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children they were forced into Christian practices and discouraged from practicing their own religions. Some said they were forced to participate in Bible readings, prayer times or Baptist services. The Homes' directors say the proselytizing was not policy, but rather done by employees working contrary to policy. Nobody is accusing the Homes of having taken poor care of the children; in fact, the truth appears to be quite the opposite. Nonetheless, government funding does appear to have been used to advance not merely Christianity, though that would be bad enough, but a particular version of Christianity -- the Baptist version.

The State's attorney thinks the children just misunderstood the situation, though some have said they were told if they did not go to church or participate in Bible study, they would face "consequences."

Attorney Jonathan Goldberg, representing the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said …"If a child says, 'I don't want to go to the Baptist church,' then the child does not go." ... He said some children might have erroneously believed they were forced to go, or there might not have been a church of their faith nearby.

I know a lot of Christian people who would wonder what all the fuss is about. After all, a little church never hurt anybody, right? Back in the olden days, it was just expected that good people went to church. But times have changed. Today, we're locked in a major battle between the "Secular Progressives" (or "SPs"), as Bill O'Reilly likes to call them, and the "theocrats," as they're often viewed (and rightfully so) by those who value the separation of church and state. I think Charles Haynes, who is a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center in Virginia, hit the nail on the head in his comments, explaining why the battle should end for the good of everyone:

The case "takes us back to a fundamental problem with government funding of religion," he said.

"Generally, it's not good for religious organizations to enter into an arrangement which would restrict its mission."

So true. Churches get into social service as a means of fulfilling the "great commission" to take the gospel to the whole world. Those in need are receptive to the message and, in the minds of most good Christian people, are also most in need of the comfort of forgiveness and a loving Savior. Their public service efforts really are inextricably linked to proselytizing, and that really is how it ought to be. That is the entire problem with the Faith Based Initiative program.

Whether you view government funding of faith based social service programs as cover for government sponsored religion or see it as an act of slapping duct tape over the mouths of Christians, either way it still is wrong. And people who are driven by a belief that God wants them to spread the Good News just cannot help themselves. Nor should they be expected to – after all, the sharing and debating of ideas and beliefs about how we got here and where we are going is one of the most fascinating discussions we can have as human beings. We just shouldn't have government sticking its nose into the middle of the debate and skewing it through the power of its incredibly huge purse.

Posted by Becky at May 2, 2007 01:23 PM