And the Winner is.... The following appeared in the National Briefing section of the New York Times, September 24, 2005:

"CALIFORNIA GIRL WITH LESBIAN PARENTS IS EXPELLED. Ontario Christian School expelled a 14-year-old student, Shay Clark, because her parents are lesbians, the school superintendent, Leonard Stob, wrote in a letter. 'Your family does not meet the policies of admission,' Mr. Stob wrote to Shay's biological mother, Tina Clark.

The school's policy states that at least one parent cannot engage in practices 'immoral or inconsistent with a positive Christian lifestyle such as cohabiting without marriage or in a homosexual relationship, ' Mr. Stob wrote. The girl plans to attend public school next week. Ms. Clark and her partner, Mitzi Gray, have been together 22 years and have two other daughters."

Besides the obvious, that two adults, raising three children, being together for TWENTY-TWO years sounds like a good thing to me, I checked with my Christian Policy. The original source. I am sure Mr. Stob has seen it, THE BIBLE, and I think the following are much more important 'policies' that a CHRISTIAN school could be following:

1. "Judge not, that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1. If you continue to read that chapter you will read about trying to remove a speck from your brother's eye, while you have a plank in your eye.

2. "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:14) Shay was in the school for some reason; her sisters were apparently attending a different school(s). Why was Shay there? Is Mr. Stob so sure that God's purposes were not being served by Shay's presence?

3. Jesus said, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." (John 8:7) Here the people were about to stone a woman that was accused of being a prostitute. After the pronouncement by Jesus, one by one each person that was ready to so easily toss the stones, put the stones down and walked away. Further on in the chapter, verses 10 and 11, "When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?'

She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said to her, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.' Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ' I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'"

Mr. Stob, in removing Shay, is depriving a child of God from being in an environment where she can certainly experience the Light of Life. But then again, maybe not, since I feel Mr. Stob certainly is overreaching in his actions.

The best demonstration of Christian love and inclusiveness would have been to keep Shay Clark in the school.

One last thought: the policy states "at least one parent cannot engage in practices...." This means one parent can be the most despicable person on earth and the child would still be allowed to stay in school. Since the school clearly does not recognize the two mom family, did Mr. Stob, research who Shay's biological father was? Maybe he made an anonymous sperm donation, and is living a Christian life and is not "engaging in practices 'immoral or inconsistent with a positive Christian lifestyle such as cohabiting without marriage or in a homosexual relationship.'"

Just my two cents worth. Why can't we just all get along?  ¶ 6:53 AM