April 7, 2014
A Muslim parent is upset over fliers his two elementary school-aged children received advertising an Easter egg hunt in Michigan.
The papers were passed out to students at three Dearborn, Mich., elementary schools, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Headlined, "Eggstravaganza!" the fliers announced an April 12 egg
hunt, relay race and egg toss at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church.
"It really bothered my two kids," parent Majed Moughni said of his
children, aged 7 and 9. "My son was like, ‘Dad, I really don't feel
comfortable getting these flyers, telling me to go to church. I thought
churches are not supposed to mix with schools.' "
A 9-year-old understands the concept of church-state separation?
Moughni said he doesn't agree with "using school teachers paid by
public funds ... to pass out these flyers that are being distributed by a
church."
"I think that's a serious violation of separation of church and state," he told the Free Press.
The pastor at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church didn't understand what
the hubbub was all about. The egg hunt isn't a religious event, she
said, and the flier - decorated with images of eggs and a bunny - was
approved by the school district.
"There is not a religious component to this event," Pastor Neeta
Nichols told the newspaper. "Part of our ministry in Dearborn is to
invite the community to let them know we're here. We're offering various
kinds of programming, fun opportunities, so what we can be engaged
with the community."
Others aren't so sure.
"It would be one thing if this were an Easter egg hunt in an
otherwise secular setting," said Greg Lipper, senior litigation counsel
at Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "But this
invitation was for an Easter egg hunt at a Christian church - and so the
event has much clearer religious connotations. Context matters."
How's this for context? Ten Muslim students at a Maryland public
school last year demanded - and received - time off from studies so they
could perform their traditional prayers on school property, according
to The Washington Post.
FINISH
No comments:
Post a Comment