Toronto School District to Vote on Banning Bible Handouts for Non-Educational Purposes
- Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:51am by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
Image Credit: The Gideons International
A Toronto school district in southern Ontario is taking a final vote on Tuesday night regarding whether to ban free handouts of Gideons Bibles. Based on past votes, the Bluewater School District is expecting the dissemination of Bibles for non-instructional purposes to fifth-grade students to be officially halted.
According to the Associated Press, the debate has been an emotional one, with trustees receiving both threats and hate mail. These individuals are accusing the trustees who oversee the district as being both un-Christian and un-Canadian by refusing to allow the Bibles to be handed out.
The local Gideons International chapter in Canada has distanced itself from these charges, saying that it will accept the ban if it is implemented; some church elders have also separated themselves from these critiques. Tuesday’s meeting is expected to be packed, as at least one delegation is planning to speak out against the ban. The AP has more:
Based on a legal opinion and concerns about the cost of allowing distribution of all religious materials, the trustees have so far opted to ban such handouts as several other school boards across Canada have done.
The invective of those opposed to the ban unnerved some trustees of the Bluewater board, which has more than 18,000 students in 53 schools.
Chairwoman Jan Johnstone said Monday that a recent article by The Canadian Press on the torrent of hate mail directed at trustees, some of it racist, prompted a new wave of correspondence.
This time, however, Johnstone said correspondents from across Canada and the United States were by and large “overwhelmingly supportive” of the pending ban.
Those who support the ban argue that the distribution of Bibles has no place in public schools. Some go as far as to claim that proving the holy book actually violates human rights legislation.
However, opponents are highly critical of the likely ban. Some parents have even threatened to remove their children from the public school system if, indeed, it is implemented.
In an effort to temper flames, Johnstone has reiterated that the ban was only on non-instructional materials. She said that multi-faith content in all public school curriculum will continue, so long as it is for educational purposes.
“Bibles and other religious texts will continue to be available in our libraries,” Johnstone said.
(H/T: The AP via Yahoo!)
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 589 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 414 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 378 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 414 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 378 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 414 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (66)
Baikonur
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 4:39pmThe most conservatve Canadian I ever met was a Catholic woman with a 5th grade education that farmed all her life, and then worked as a cleaning lady, and then retired. She was fierce in her Frenchness and Catholicism, and did all the flowers for her Church. She was mostly illiterate. And she believed in ordination of women priests.
Sometimes I read the posts here and despair, and then I remember that what is wrong with the Blazers is not lack of education, or IQ points, or even literacy, but that, like in the great 50‘s movie ’The Bad Seed,’ they are just not nice people.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 5:38pmThat depends on what you consider to be nice.
I don’t have to nor do I want to meet your standards.
If you don’t like this country, then you can leave. Why should we become another Marxist craphole? You have plenty of those countries all over the world to go to.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 5:47pmYou’re one of those left wingers that considers it worse to use “hate” speech than it is to commit murder or rape. So you’re in no position to talk about morals.
Report Post »Counter-Culture Revolutionist
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 4:10pmI took a world civilization course at a college in Chicago and the professor covered every religion EXCEPT Christianity. He said he didn’t have the time. So instead of arguing the point with him, I politely asked if I could distribute copies of the Gospel of John to all of my classmates as part of the educational process. He allowed that.
It is unclear from the article whether the death threats came from people calling themselves Christians. Needless to say, I hope not. Instead, people should adopt the path of peace and love. It may be that by taking that stance, the school officials will be more open to allowing individuals to come into the classrooms and give their testimonies on how the Bible and Jesus Christ has changed their lives for the better. Every subject matter in the schools can be touched by appropriate testimony.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 4:04pmNo one makes anyone take a Bible. It is offered. If someone declines…it is left to them. Canada is so liberal the very mention of the name makes one’s teeth gnash involuntarily. They are Britian-lite and we all know what a terribly leftist government the Brits have. I am half English in lineage but ashamed of it.
Report Post »SoNick
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 5:50pmCanada is now run by the mosty right wing government in its history. In fact, some of Prime Minister‘s Harper’s Conservative members of Parliament would be right at home in the Tea Party. But of course, if you think Obama,s a marxist, then Canada is probably North Korea or something.
Report Post »SoNick
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 5:54pm“most”, not “mosty”
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 7:46pmSonick – That means there aren’t any real conservatives in Canada.
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 2:39pmIt is a very short step between banning and burning.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 3:58pmWell-put.
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 2:38pmThis move will spread throughout Canada. Shortly rocks will fall and most of Canada will be destroyed because of their Anti-God position.
Report Post »Just shows how foolish man can be.
Jenny Lind
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 2:40pmCandanadians better get a clue, and vote these idiots out, REALLY quick.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 4:52pmCanada is a beautiful and virtuous country filled with many wonderful people. You should be so lucky as to experience the peace of Canada.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 5:38pmBaikonur – Considering that you think the Soviet Union was a great country, I don’t think you have any moral standards whatsoever.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 8:08pmBaikonur – Canada is such a peaceful country that you can go to jail for “hate” speech (which means any speech that a left winger finds offensive). It‘s harder to own a gun and I’d be forced to pay for somebody else’s health care who is perfectly able to take care of themselves.
Report Post »Blue60
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 1:15pm“Oh, well… it’s Canada… where the King of England created his own Religion and his own Bible.”
That’s got nothing to do with Canada. IT’s no different in the USA. You cannot go around handing out bibles at public schools in the USA. Oh, but you can teach the kids about homosexuality.
Report Post »kspatriot
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 1:13pmSeems they are using the same tactics up there.
“America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold:
Report Post »Its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life.
If we can undermine these three areas,
America will collapse from within.” — Josef Stalin
Blue60
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 1:09pmIf they allow the local chapter of Gideon’s to hand out free bibles, then they have to allow free Korans, Latter Day Saints and so on. I think this is the REAL issue. If Gideon’s wants to hand out free bibles, they can do it off the property. No-one can stop them from doing that.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:55pmOkay, Bibles are available in the library – They may ban ‘giving’ Bibles to students. Look out Halloween.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:43pmSure would not want anyone learning to be good people and do all the right things now would we. More important to politically correct ya know.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:33pmIf they are banned – If a child is studying the bible as literature or history, then can‘t the Gideons just provide the ’textbook’ for the students in those classes? A charitable contribution to the school district.
Report Post »RIGHTHOOK
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:24pmIt’s is interesting that our moral footing is completely devoid in North America. The USA is sandwiched between two very different yet two very dysfunctional countries that are poor examples to follow and both are imposing their inept and unsuccessful behavior upon us.
Report Post »Until this world discontinues embracing what is bad, seal our borders, there really is no clear cut way out of the whack job world that have been thrust upon us. Better learn how to fend for yourself and defend you and your family by whatever means possible. There are no boundaries anymore folks and in a street fight there are no rules. We are in the midst of a full on street fight.
jcldwl
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:21pmI will gladly accept all those free bibles. So I can store them and protect them from those who will be confiscating and burning them in the not to distant future.
Report Post »Gourdy
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:27pmUh, oh. Do you know something we don’t?
Report Post »gperky
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:44pmIt is evident that the direction we are going, your comment will come to fruition. There is an all out assault on the Bible and Christianity. After all the good that has come from this nation being God centered and founded, we have allowed a handful to try and destroy a great and mighty nation. We are headed down the path of being just like everyone else instead of being the shining star in this world. Just the latest of a 16 year old girl bringing down a banner that has been posted on the wall for over 40 years because she is offended by written words is amazing to me. God help those of us that still stand for right and wrong.
Report Post »cromag11b
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:16pmWhat part of “Keep it to yourselves” do Christians seem to not get?
Like thousands upon thousands of other religions you all should just let yours fade away to the forgotten side of history.
Report Post »dblaess
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:26pmI agree. I believe and practice this belief. If someone asks I tell them my beliefs. I do not think the Christian faith will go away.
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:38pmif you listen to what the religious teach…its not christianity. the progressives in the church have seen to that. …sorry…I’m not into leftovers.
Report Post »gperky
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:48pmChristianity will never “fade away”. People like you have been trying to fade us away for centuries without success. It’s amazing to me how simple minded people like you can be offended by only words. If it is something you don’t believe, then just ignore it. There are thousands of words and songs and garbage that offend me but I just ignore it. For some reason Chritianity and the good it stands for, gets under the skin of people that have simple minds.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 3:07pmNo, we’re not going to keep it to ourselves just b/c people like you are thin skinned.
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 3:56pmHey neanderthal, go to blinds .com and get the room darkening blinds…crawl into your hole, and stay there. you made a choice, each makes a choice. live and die by your choice so be it.
Report Post »canadianproud
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:15pmDon’t think your better than Canada. Who will take you in , when your crap hits the fan?
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 7:46pmThere’s nowhere else that we can go to.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:13pmHave they done a similar ban on Qu’rans? Or is it just Christians and Christianity, and now the Bible, that is under attack?
Toronto is a beautiful city but it’s going to the dogs. Shame!
Report Post »VastRightWingConspirator
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:10pmI can’t believe you can still give away Bibles to school children in Canada. Try that in the U.S, and you might wind up in prison or at least sued.
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:13pmyou can’t even read scripture on a public walkway! I love canada!
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:30pmThis country is turning it’s back on the very thing that made it great in the first place; Divine Providence.
Report Post »JimL
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:08pmTruth, history, beauty banned– outside the no-boundaries of the non-existent curriculum.
Report Post »jefftavolieri
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:03pmblaze reactionaries need to remember to:
1) stop.
Report Post »2) substitute the appropriate muslim analogs (e.g. OMG they r giving my kids teh KORAN!!!)
3) think.
VastRightWingConspirator
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:12pmJeff needs to stop
1) We live in a country based on Christian ethics
Report Post »2) Christians didn’t fly planes into buildings on 9/11/01
3) Evolution is a theory not a fact.
dblaess
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:23pmI think it would be ok for the Koran to handed out . Don’t you think it is good to read opposite views? This helps to make you think why your views are good.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:39pmdblaess – I would not want my small child to be given a Koran to read. I want my child to read the bible, because it has what I believe in it. I do not think small children should read or experience everything including opposite views so they can learn what they believe is good. Instead parents should teach their children what they think is right and true.
The constitution does not say separation of church and state, it says the gov‘t can’t establish or prevent a religion. Does letting an outside group come in and give out bibles constitute establishment of religion? That’s the real question.
Report Post »Copo
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 3:57pmConspirator: By definition the General theory of evolution isn’t even a theory, its a hypothesis, a very weak hypothesis none the less.
Report Post »Copo
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 3:59pmDeebrj, the founders did talk about separation of Church and State, however even Thomas Jefferson, the founding father who was most against religion, said that the purpose of the Separation of Church and State was to keep the State out of the Church’s business, not vice versa as most people view it today.
Report Post »BlackCrow
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:02pmIt’s another sovereign country. They can do as they wish. You don’t have to agree or buy maple syrup from them.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:01pmHandouts I’ll give them. As long as teachers and students can bring their own materials and the school library has them as resources I’m okay with this.
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:00pmhey y’all! my sweet home chicago! we have more than eagles nesting 5 miles from my house! http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-16/news/chi-bald-eagles-spotted-in-forest-preserve-in-palos-township-20120416_1_adult-eagles-eagle-family-golden-eagle-protection-act
we have blackhawks in the skies! http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/military-blackhawks-circle-downtown-skies-honing-urban-battle-skills-chicago-20120416
(does this mean we are going “to the birds” ? lol)
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:02pmObama sings Sweet Home Chicago at White House blues reception – video http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/feb/22/obama-sings-blues-video
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:58amThis is another country people and do not have our Constution. Just as long as they keep paying cash for medical services they need to obtain in the US because their system won’t take care of them.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:16pmObamacare should scare the Canadians as much as us. Many come down to Florida in winter .. and get their healthcare while here.
As for Toronto schools .. sad what they too have become .. my cousin was a teacher and another was a principal in Toronto school .. yes they used to start the day with a prayer .. now you can’t even give out a bible ..
Report Post »canadianproud
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:23pmI have lived in Canada all my life, & have never been refused medical treatment. One of the best hospitals in the world is in London Ontario.
Report Post »Gourdy
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:58amFree Bibles to 5th graders? That’s proselytizing and plain wrong. I wouldn’t want any outside group giving my 5th grader religious material. Where would you draw the line?
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:00pmWhat country do you live in?
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:02pmBut i’m sure you want everything else free to them, don’t you?
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:05pmMabey they can handout material on how to get a job at their newest legal profession, the Brothel. That is legal so it must be O.K. Write me in 8 years and let me know where your daughter is working.
Report Post »Gourdy
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 12:10pmLove, would you be OK with free Korans, free Hare Krishna literature, etc going to your kids? God knows I wouldn’t. Public schools are not the place for that. People should teach their kids the Bible at home or in a church catechism class.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 17, 2012 at 11:57amOh, well… it’s Canada… where the King of England created his own Religion and his own Bible.
Report Post »