School Apologizes for Operation Christmas Child Message

This sentence from the article mischaracterizes the situation:

Trollinger said parents received an automated telephone call alerting them of the incident – as well as letters – all because the name “Jesus” was mentioned on a slip of paper.

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Asking children to fill in the blank in this statement, “I love Jesus because ______.” forces them to make a specific statement of Christian religious faith. This goes well beyond simply mentioning Jesus in a school setting.

Glass*Soul said:

This sentence from the article mischaracterizes the situation:



Asking children to fill in the blank in this statement, “I love Jesus because ______.” forces them to make a specific statement of Christian religious faith. This goes well beyond simply mentioning Jesus in a school setting.

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Yeah, I noticed that, too.

The comments are, for the most part, appalling.

DaisyDay said:

Yeah, I noticed that, too.

The comments are, for the most part, appalling.

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And claiming to be Christian.

I'm glad I have met so many good Christians in real life that I have something to counteract the jerks online. Otherwise I could easily fall into the trap of judging all Christians because of those jerks.

I am saddened that so many truly evil people have the same label as those good people I have known.

Billnew said:

School Apologizes for Operation Christmas Child Message | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes



Samaritan purse does not require religion if the participants don't push the issue.

The Superintendent answered this correctly.


If they wanted to encourage kids to write, it should be:

"I wanted to help you(or this charity) because_________"

Then if the kids wanted they could include a religious message.

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They don't even need to put any words in the child's mouth. It's not a matter of religion - it's a matter of freedom of expression.

Why not just have a box, and at the top "Message:"

Billnew said:

IMO they need to bring the world together to help poor children, share common goals, break down prejudices, show each other we are human,
Fellowship.

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How is that fair to children who believe we're not all human, that some, if not all of us are animals? What about the children who aspire to be vandals, and hate humanity?

CTD said:

How is that fair to children who believe we're not all human, that some, if not all of us are animals?

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We are humans and members of the animal kingdom.

You seem to be confused about the facts and what is taught in biology.

JustMeSee said:

We are humans and members of the animal kingdom.

You seem to be confused about the facts and what is taught in biology.

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Nah, CTD is making a stawman right there regarding the people who complained. He knows what he's doing.

That's very bad on both the organizations part and the schools part.

The organization should have elected to use a neutral questionnaire for schools knowing that this would impose religious answer on children.

Then again the school should have screened the questionnaire before handing those out. Usually Samaritans Purse has a majority of Christian donators and it was probably instinctive to hand out those forms.

So it's a failure on two fronts, but at the end of the day what's done is done. It was an honest mistake.

The seperation between Church and State is as far as it's ever been and I don't see it ever getting better. This goes to show all believers that the war is tougher now. Our tactics of using the State to spread the Word DOES NOT cut it. Love trumps all, relationships trumps all. That's the best way to spread the Gospel. That's how Jesus did it.

In the end, we "can do all things through him who strengthens [us]" Phil. 4:13
because God is an almighty God whose love tears down barriers - to reach the sick, the hungry, and the needy.

I love my school because __________________

I love the national dictator because __________________

The silliness here has nothing to do with the subject; it has to do with putting words in someone else's mouth.

Since it was a Christian who got careless, everyone thinks they can play like it's an attempt to establish theocracy. That's bogus. Now you know; now you understand; now you know everyone understands. Will it cease?

CTD said:

I love my school because __________________

I love the national dictator because __________________

The silliness here has nothing to do with the subject; it has to do with putting words in someone else's mouth.

Since it was a Christian who got careless, everyone thinks they can play like it's an attempt to establish theocracy. That's bogus. Now you know; now you understand; now you know everyone understands. Will it cease?

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Honest mistake or not, it was wrong and corrections were needed.

Can you imagine the rampage that would be going on if the sentence had read "I love muhammed because..."

CTD said:

Since it was a Christian who got careless, everyone thinks they can play like it's an attempt to establish theocracy. That's bogus. Now you know; now you understand; now you know everyone understands. Will it cease?

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I didn't realise that the First Amendment was something you could freely ignore every time you think that it is unimportant. Do any other American laws work like that?

CTD said:

I love my school because __________________

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That's fine although older kids might not answer in a way you would deem appropriate.

I love the national dictator because __________________

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That is bad because because it is nonsensical - we don't have a national dictator - and it seems to want to foment a treasonous pov.

The silliness here has nothing to do with the subject; it has to do with putting words in someone else's mouth.

Since it was a Christian who got careless, everyone thinks they can play like it's an attempt to establish theocracy. That's bogus. Now you know; now you understand; now you know everyone understands. Will it cease?

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Perhaps it will cease when such "mistakes" cease.

SithDoughnut said:

Now you know; now you understand; now you know everyone understands. Will it cease?

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I didn't realise that the First Amendment was something you could freely ignore every time you think that it is unimportant. Do any other American laws work like that?

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If you don't realize words, what are they doing coming right straight out of your mouth?

Doesn't get much more self-contradictory.

I know - it's the hate that counts, right? Doesn't have to make any sense, just so long as we all get the message.

...And I have my answer. Will it stop? No chance!

Thusia Zao said:

That's very bad on both the organizations part and the schools part.

The organization should have elected to use a neutral questionnaire for schools knowing that this would impose religious answer on children.

Then again the school should have screened the questionnaire before handing those out. Usually Samaritans Purse has a majority of Christian donators and it was probably instinctive to hand out those forms.

So it's a failure on two fronts, but at the end of the day what's done is done. It was an honest mistake.

The seperation between Church and State is as far as it's ever been and I don't see it ever getting better. This goes to show all believers that the war is tougher now. Our tactics of using the State to spread the Word DOES NOT cut it. Love trumps all, relationships trumps all. That's the best way to spread the Gospel. That's how Jesus did it.

In the end, we "can do all things through him who strengthens [us]" Phil. 4:13
because God is an almighty God whose love tears down barriers - to reach the sick, the hungry, and the needy.

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Bolding mine.

Which is what the OP here said and Many here agree with...... As far as the Principal involved. But go take a look at the link in the OP and then read many of the comments there, which one would assume were made by 'christians'.

Their comments are NOT a mistake, they reflect a foul attitude. They know nothing of either Christ or America.

If more Christians were talking like either you or the principal of the school I would consider this past. With so many sinnging a different tune it is anything but over.

I at least will try to keep remembering they do not represent the whole of Christianity, but Christians would do well to also make the same point, lest they be condemned by their silence.

CTD said:

If you don't realize words, what are they doing coming right straight out of your mouth?

Doesn't get much more self-contradictory.

I know - it's the hate that counts, right? Doesn't have to make any sense, just so long as we all get the message.

...And I have my answer. Will it stop? No chance!

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It's impressive how unrelated your reply is to what I posted. A breach of the first amendment, no matter how small, is still a violation and illegal. The problem is people like you and the comments, who view upholding the law as hate, because we won't let you do what you want.