In
recent decades our society has seen the rise of various "liberation"
movements, including Women's Liberation, Animal Liberation, etc.
The
purpose of this study is to examine the Children's Liberation movement.
This
movement is generally promoted by "child advocates" working through
various child welfare and social service agencies. These especially include
official government agencies, such as child and family services agencies. In
particular, a leading force in promoting the movement has been the United
Nations, which sponsored the "International Year of the Child" (IYC).
(This occurred some time ago, but we will see that the UN is still implementing
its goals.)
Like
other such movements, this one tries to put its best foot forward in the eyes
of the public, in order to gain a favorable impression. But most people are
unaware of the real goals of those who lead the movement. Our purpose is to
discuss the goals of these leaders and compare them to the Bible.
Nothing
in anything we teach is ever intended or should ever be construed to justify or
to in any way incite or encourage personal vengeance or physical violence
against any person.
We will
focus mainly on three documents that express the goals of the movement.
*****************************************************
Two documents were part of a book entitled The Children's Rights
Movement.
This
book was endorsed in the official IYC publication IYC Report [according to the
"Pro-Family Forum Newsletter" - 9/79].
(1)
"A Child's Bill of Rights," by Richard Farson, printed in MS
Magazine, 3/74 [reproduced in "Pro-Family Forum Newsletter" - 9/79]
(2)
"Youth Liberation," published by Youth Liberation Press [quoted in
Christian Inquirer - 10/79]
Remember
that these documents are not the rants of some loose cannons in the Child
Rights movement. They are endorsed by powerful government agencies, including
the United Nations.
To
implement their views, in 1988 UN agencies formulated the "United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child."
President
Clinton signed it in 1995, but to take effect it must be ratified by the US
Senate. So, President Obama pushed for its ratification. For years Hillary
Clinton served as chairman of a powerful children's rights advocacy group named
the Children's Defense Fund. She has lobbied extensively for this UN
Convention.
So far, all nations have ratified the Convention except two:
Somalia and the United States!
If our
Senate ratifies this treaty, it will become part of "the supreme law"
of the United States.
*****************************************************
To gain
popular acceptance, this treaty is less overt than other Child Rights
statements, yet it clearly implements the policies of Children's Liberation.
Its defenders often try to deny or tone down the impact it will have, but if it
is ratified, you can be sure that it will be the major tool they use to
implement their agenda.
Treaties
become part of the supreme law of the land, alongside the Constitution. As
such, this UN Convention will have as much weight as laws passed by Congress. Currently,
most laws that regulate parent-child relationships must be passed at the state
level. But under the treaty, all such laws will become the responsibility of
the Federal government, not the states. Worse yet, the terms of the treaty will
be enforced by international committees of "experts" from other
nations, whose decisions will be binding on American courts and legislatures.
In short, family relations in your home will be governed, not by state laws (as
at present), but by Federal laws, and ultimately by a bureaucracy consisting of
people from other nations. (See Farris, pp 1-3.)
Please note at the outset that this treaty refers to all children
under age 18.
Consider
some of the major goals of the Children's Rights Movement that are made clear
in these publications and implemented in the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child. As we proceed, please consider where you may have observed these ideas
being expressed or implemented. Ask yourself how much our society - including
members of the church - have already been influenced by these ideas. Then
consider how we will be impacted if this UN Convention is passed.
I.
Freedom of Association
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Goals of the Children's Rights Movement
=========================
The goals of Children's Liberation
***************************
"The
Right to Self-Determination. Children should have the right to decide the
matters which affect them most directly ... The Right to Alternative Home
Environments. Self-determining children should be able to choose from among a
variety of arrangements: residences operated by children, child exchange
programs, 24-hour child-care centers..." ("Bill of Rights").
"We
want the freedom to form into communal families. We believe that the nuclear
family is not in the best interest of the people involved. Young people are now
considered property - to be molded in the image of their parents ... this is
intolerable. In communal families, children ... learn the cooperation of community
rather than the oppression of ownership." ("Youth Liberation")
"We must have complete freedom of speech, press, assembly
..." ("Youth Liberation").
So,
Children's Lib says children should be free to go where they wish, say what
they want, and associate with whomever they choose. This includes the freedom
to leave their family and choose any other living arrangement they prefer,
including living in communes operated by children or by the government.
How the UN Convention implements the goals of Children's
Liberation
*****************************************************
Article 15 of the Convention grants "the right of the child
to freedom of association."
Article
18 grants children a right to state-run child care facilities and calls on the
government to ensure "facilities and services for the care of
children."
So, the
Convention requires the government to provide alternative living arrangements
for children, and it guarantees that children (age 18 and down) can join any
club, cult, or gang without parental objection.
What if
the child chooses not to "associate" any longer with his natural
family? Suppose he prefers to become part of a cult or gang? What if he chooses
to leave home and live in a commune? Parents would be powerless under the
Convention to prevent this. In fact, the government would be responsible to
help provide him a place to live!
Teachings of the Bible
==============
Raising
children is the responsibility of their natural parents.
************************************************
1
Timothy 5:8 - Men should provide for their own households. A man who will not
do so is worse than an unbeliever. Surely this includes providing for ones
natural children.
Ephesians
6:4 - Fathers should bring up their children in the nurture of the Lord. This
is the duty of parents. No passage gives the government the right to set up or
to allow alternative living arrangements for children against the will of the
parents.
Ephesians
6:1-3 - Children must submit to their parents. They have no right to leave home
and go wherever they please, just because they are upset with their parents.
And the government has no right to set them free to allow them to leave.
1
Corinthians 15:33 - Evil company corrupts good habits. And since parents must
bring their children up in the training of the Lord, it follows that parents
must limit their children's association with evil companions. They must teach
children not to "run with a bad crowd," and children must obey those
rules. They are not free to go wherever they want with whomever they want.
All
these are God-given duties. Government has no right to contradict these duties
or to set children or parents free from these duties.
[See
also Proverbs 1:8; Luke 2:51; Romans 1:30,32.]
The
Child Rights Movement assumes that the average young person has far greater
wisdom than they really possess.
*****************************************************
Imagine
what families would be like if Child Liberation has its way. All of us can
remember foolish things we thought, said, or did when we were young. For our
own good, our parents often restrained us from doing things that would have
turned out foolishly and perhaps even tragically. We may have resented our
parent's interference at the time, but now we realize our parents were right
and we were wrong.
Think
of the tragedies that would occur if kids, regardless of age, are free to go
anywhere they want, anytime they want; and if parents try to restrict them,
kids can just leave and live somewhere else!
Has our
society been influenced by the views that characterize Children's Liberation?
How many people have accepted the doctrine that parents "cannot tell their
children who their friends will be," or that we should not restrict who
they are with and where they are going? Such ideas are just the old spirit of
rebellion that has characterized young people for generations until they grow
up and learn wisdom. But what will be the consequences to our homes and our
children if these views become the "supreme law of the land" if this
UN Convention is passed?
II.
Freedom of Religious Choice
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Goals of the Children's Rights Movement
=========================
The goals of Children's Liberation
***************************
"The
Right to Educate Oneself. Children should be free to design their own
education, choosing from among many options the kinds of learning experiences
they want..." ("Bill of Rights"). But remember that
"education" and "learning experiences" would include
religious training. So, if children are free to choose their own education and
learning experiences, then parents could not indoctrinate them religiously
without the child's permission.
"We must have complete freedom of ... religion ..."
("Youth Liberation").
"Children
have the right to freedom from religious or political indoctrination."
("The Charter of Children's Rights," via E. Britnell, "Searching
the Scriptures," 5/76)
How the UN Convention implements the goals of Children's
Liberation
*****************************************************
Article 14 of the Convention grants children "freedom of
thought, conscience, and religion."
Article
29 says the government must see that children are educated in "the spirit
of understanding, peace, toleration ... [for all] ... religious groups of
indigenous origin."
The
American Bar Association published a book entitled Children's Rights in
America, that examines the application of the UN Convention. It shows that a
"Christian" private school would violate the Convention if it teaches
that Christianity is "first and only among the religions of the
world." (2/13/95 letter from HSLDA)
So, the
Convention would enforce the view of Children's Rights that any child should be
free to attend any religious group and hold any religious views he chooses,
without parental interference. He can decide what beliefs he will or will not
allow the parent to teach him. If the parent insists on teaching doctrines or
making the child attend church meetings that the child disapproves, the child
can report the parent to the authorities.
Meanwhile,
government agencies must teach the child to "tolerate" and have
"peace" with all religious groups. However, schools - even private
schools and home schools - would violate the law if they teach that the gospel
of Jesus is the only one true religion.
Teachings of the Bible
=============
Religious
freedom sounds wonderful ... for adults, who have developed the wisdom and
maturity to evaluate evidence and distinguish truth from error. And when they
grow up, children must decide for themselves whether or not they accept the
beliefs their parents taught them. However...
Parents
have the duty to diligently teach, influence, and train their children to know
and accept the ways of the Lord.
*****************************************************
This must begin at the earliest possible ages.
Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers should bring children up in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord.
Deuteronomy
6:6-9 - Children should be taught God's word diligently at every opportunity
throughout the day.
Genesis
18:19 -Abraham commanded his children to keep the Lord's ways. And note that
God approved of this. This is what God expects parents to do.
2
Timothy 3:15 - From a child Timothy had been taught the Scriptures that could
make him wise to salvation. Timothy's mother and grandmother practiced what
Child Rights leaders say should not be done. But the end result was to provide
Timothy with the hope of salvation.
Once
again, these are God-given duties. No government rule or agency has the right
to interfere with parents who seek to train their children to serve the true
God, who created us all.
[See
also Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 4:9,10.]
Salvation
comes only through Jesus, and error must be opposed.
*****************************************************
John
14:6 - Jesus taught that no one can have a right relationship with God and no
one can be saved from sin, except through Him.
Acts 4:12 - Likewise, there is no way of salvation except through
Him.
John
8:24 - Those who do not believe in Him will die in their sins. Surely good
parents should teach their children to know the truth so they can avoid eternal
punishment.
2
Timothy 4:2-4 - Specifically, religious error must not be tolerated but must be
opposed by teaching truth.
Since
parents are commanded to teach their children the ways of God, it follows that
parents must teach these truths to their children.
[Revelation
3:19; Ephesians 5:11; Jude 3; Mark 16:16]
The
question is not whether or not children will be influenced religiously, but
rather who will influence them and what kind of influence they will receive.
*****************************************************
In a
garden, if you do not plant flowers or vegetables, weeds will surely grow. So,
if we do not instill religious truth in our children, sin and error will surely
take over.
The
real reason Children's Rights leaders do not want parents to influence children
religiously is so that schools and other agencies can influence children to
accept the "politically correct" doctrine that all religious beliefs
are equally valid. Meanwhile, all who teach otherwise are muzzled by the law!
The result is that children hear only one side of the subject.
How
diligent are we in teaching our children to learn and obey God's word? How many
people have accepted the doctrine that parents should not "make"
their children attend church meetings and Bible studies, but the children
should be allowed to decide for themselves where they will go and what they
will be taught? What will be the consequences to our homes and our children if
our government accepts the views of this UN Convention?
III.
Freedom of Sexual Activity
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Goals of the Children's Rights Movement
=========================
The goals of Children's Liberation
***************************
"The
Right to Sexual Freedom. Children should have the right to conduct their sexual
lives with no more restriction than adults. Sexual freedom for children must
include the right to information about sex, the right to nonsexist education,
and the right to all sexual activities that are legal among consenting
adults." ("Bill of Rights")
"We
want sexual self-determination ... all people must have the unhindered right to
be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or transsexual" ("Youth
Liberation").
Dr.
Alayne Yates, a pediatrician and author of "Sex without Shame,"
advocates "total sexual liberation" for kids. Parents should
encourage children to experiment sexually. Incest between children or between
father and daughter can be beneficial. (San Francisco Chronicle, 5/15/78)
Similar views were advocated by prominent sex educators John Money and Wardell
Pomeroy (Time, 9/7/81).
So,
Children's Rights leaders believe children should be free to participate in any
form of sexual activity they want, without hindrance from parents, government,
religion, etc. This means they should be allowed to participate in pornography,
premarital sexual relations, homosexuality, and abortion. Sex education should
inform them about these sexual freedoms. And "non-sexist education"
means they should be taught the views of Women's Liberation.
How the UN Convention implements the goals of Children's
Liberation
*****************************************************
Article
16 of the UN Convention grants the child the "right to privacy." But
remember, "right to privacy" is the legal strategy that was used to
legalize abortion on demand, contraception for unmarried teens, and other forms
of sexual activity.
Article
24 requires governments to provide children with "family planning
education and services." "Family planning education" is the code
name for education in "safe sex," which almost universally justifies
homosexuality, pornography, abortion, and every form of sexual immorality.
Article
29 requires the government to teach children "equity of sexes." Teaching
"equity of sexes" means the schools should become indoctrination
centers for feminism, teaching that men have no authority in the home and no
distinctions in gender-related roles may be tolerated.
How the UN Convention is applied in practice
*************************************
Since
several countries ratified the UN Convention decades ago, we have a track
record to see how the UN Convention would be applied.
The UN
Committee to enforce the Convention praised Columbia for partially decriminalizing
abortion and criticized Chile for its laws against abortion. (Farris, p12)
The
World Library and Information Congress interpreted the UN Convention to mean:
"...the
school library's collection and services should support gay, lesbian, and
bisexual students ... In addition, the provision of titles with gay, lesbian,
or bisexual content and/or characters is important in helping straight students
to develop a view of the world that includes families and lifestyles that are
different from their own." (Farris, p13)
So, the
UN Convention would encourage children to practice sexual freedom and would
require governments to teach children about various sexual
"alternatives" and to provide them with all related
"services" (such as government-funded contraception and abortion).
Parents would violate the law if they attempted to hinder their children from
exercising these freedoms!
Teachings of the Bible
==============
God's
word restricts sexual activity for all people.
****************************************
Hebrews
13:4 - The sexual relationship is holy, pure, and beautiful, but only in a
lawful marriage between one man and one woman bound together for life. The
sexual union outside marriage is forbidden. (See also 1 Corinthians 7:2-4,9;
Romans 7:2,3.)
1
Corinthians 6:9-11 - Extra-marital sex, premarital sex (including incest), and
homosexuality violate God's laws of sexual morality and pervert the purity of
marriage. (See also Revelation 21:8; 22:14,15; Mark 7:20-23; Ephesians 5:1-11;
Exodus 20:14; Galatians 5:19-24.)
Romans
1:26,27 - Homosexuality violates nature and constitutes a shameful perversion
of God's laws regarding sexual morality and marriage. (See also 1 Corinthians
6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-11; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Genesis 19:4-11.)
Matthew
19:3-9 - Divorce and remarriage (on grounds other than fornication) also
violate the purity of marriage and God's plan for man and woman. (See also
Matthew 5:32; Romans 7:2,3.)
Genesis
25:21,22 (Job 3:3,16; Hosea 12:3; Luke 1:36,41,44) - Unborn children are
described throughout the Bible as "children," "babies,"
"sons," and "daughters." This shows that God views them as
human individuals, just the same as children, babies, etc., that have been
born. To deliberately kill them before birth violates God's laws against murder
just the same as killing them after they have been born.
When
parents fulfill their God-given duty to bring their children up in the training
of the Lord, they will teach their children these truths and will exercise
authority to see that they obey God's word.
The
Bible teaches that husbands and wives have distinct roles and responsibilities.
*****************************************************
1
Timothy 5:8; Genesis 3:17-19 - The husband is commanded to provide family
income. No young man is ready to marry till he is ready to fulfill this role.
Ephesians
5:22-24; Genesis 3:16; 1 Peter 3:1-6; Titus 2:5 - The husband is appointed by
God to be the leader in the family, just as Jesus is the Head of the church.
Ephesians
5:25-31,33; Titus 2:4 - Both spouses must treat one another with love and
respect. Jesus' relationship with His church sets the proper example of the
love we should imitate.
Titus
2:4; Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6; etc. - Both husband and wife must fulfill
the responsibilities of parenthood. No parent - father or mother - is free to
desert or neglect their God-given duty to raise their children to serve God.
Titus
2:5; 1 Timothy 5:14; Psalm 113:9 - The wife should work at home caring for her
family. No young woman is ready to marry till she is willing to submit to her
husband and work to care for her family as a homemaker.
These
teachings apply regardless of age. However, no one has the right to be
"sexually active" until he/she is married. And no one should marry
until they are mature enough to understand, accept, and fulfill the commitment
and responsibilities involved.
If the
UN Convention is fully implemented, the result would be total chaos in society
regarding God's plan for marriage.
Have we
taught our children a proper understanding of marriage, sexual decency, and
roles in the home? How many people have been influenced to allow their children
to practice freedoms that God does not approve? How many young people enter
into marriage having little concept of what roles they should fulfill or how
they should treat their spouse? What will be the consequences to our homes and
our children if our government passes laws such as those advocated in this UN
Convention?
IV.
Freedom from Parental Authority
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Goals of the Children's Rights Movement
=========================
The goals of Children's Liberation
***************************
"We
want the power to determine our own destiny. We want the immediate end of adult
chauvinism ... Age might once have led to wisdom, but the old have proven
themselves unable to deal with present reality ... the young must take the
lead. We want fully civil and human rights ... We must have complete freedom of
speech, press, assembly, religion and the right to vote..." ("Youth
Liberation").
"The
Right to Freedom from Physical Punishment. Children should live free of
physical threat from those who are larger and more powerful than they. Corporal
punishment is used impulsively and cruelly in the home, arbitrarily in the
school, and sadistically in penal institutions. It does not belong in our
repertoire of responses to children." ("Bill of Rights")
How the UN Convention implements the goals of Children's
Liberation
*****************************************************
Article
13 of the UN Convention gives children the right to "freedom of
expression." This includes the right to "receive and impart information
and ideas of all kinds ... either orally, in writing, or in print, in the form
of art, or through any other media of the child's choice." So, parents
would have no authority to restrict in any way what information the child
receives, what music he listens to, what books he reads, what movies or TV or
other entertainment he chooses, nor how he chooses to express himself. And
remember "expression" has come to mean what people say or do
("sexual expression," etc.).
Article
2 says children have the freedoms described in the UN Convention
"irrespective of ... parents' ... religion, political or other
opinion."
Article
43 calls for establishing a committee of ten experts "to investigate and
prosecute parents who violate their children's rights."
Article
9 says "competent authorities" may remove children from parents when
they determine "such separation is necessary for the best interests of the
child."
Article
18 of the UN Convention says the government "shall ensure the development
of institutions, facilities and services for the care of children."
So
parents would not be permitted to restrict their children's choice of
information or expression, regardless of the views of the parents, including
their religious views. A committee of experts will investigate parents; and if
in their view parents put too much restriction on their children, the children
may be removed from the home. And the government should set up institutions and
services to enforce all this.
How the UN Convention is applied in practice
*************************************
In
England, officials for the UN Convention demanded that Parliament pass laws
banning spanking in schools, and they recommended "that physical
punishment of children in families be prohibited in light of the provisions
laid down in the Convention." They also objected because parents are
allowed to remove children from sex education classes. Finally, they called for
schools to inform children of the freedoms they have under the Convention! (CWA
Alert, 3/95; PS Report, 5/95)
The UN
Committee's report on Ireland said:
[T]he
Committee is deeply concerned that corporal punishment within the family is
still not prohibited by law. The Committee ... urges the State party to:
Explicitly prohibit all forms of corporal punishment in the family; Sensitize
and education parents and the general public about the unacceptability of
corporal punishment." (Ferris, p10)
So,
application of the UN Convention would ban all spanking and corporal
punishment. It would eliminate the right of parents to control what education
and information their children receive. And these are just some of the earliest
applications of the Convention. Where will the future lead as UN bureaucrats
have more time to decide how far they can go?
Obviously,
however, children need some adult guidance. So, who ultimately decides what is
best for children, if not the parents? Children's Rights leaders say this
should come from trained counselors or "child advocates" in schools
and day-care centers, child welfare agencies, and ultimately the UN
bureaucrats.
Feminist
Kate Millett is quoted as saying: "The care of children is infinitely
better when left to the best-trained practitioners who have chosen it as a
vocation rather than to harried and often unhappy persons with little time or
taste for educating minds" ("Pro-Family Forum Newsletter,"
10/80).
So,
despite their proclamations, Child Libbers do not really believe children
should be free from all adult authority. They know that adults must guide
children and make decisions for them. They just want to make sure that ultimate
authority over children rests with child advocates, not with the parents! So,
the real issue is who will guide the children: parents who teach Biblical
morality, or government specialists who teach Humanist/Children's Rights
amorality?
Teachings of the Bible
==============
Ephesians
6:4 - Parents should give children limits according to God's commands and
according to the good of the child, not according to the selfish whims of the
parents. Note that God gave the duty of training children to parents, not to
government agencies and bureaucrats. (See also Titus 2:4; Colossians 3:21).
Ephesians
6:1-3 - Children must obey their parents' rules, acting and speaking
respectfully toward parents. They may disobey only when obedience to parents
would cause them to disobey God - Acts 5:29. (See also Proverbs 1:8; Luke 2:51;
Romans 1:30,32; Colossians 3:20; Exodus 21:15,17.)
Proverbs
13:24; 23:13,14 - Parents should use rewards and punishments (including
spanking) to motivate obedience. (See also Hebrews 12:5-11; Luke 15:20-24;
Proverbs 22:15; 19:18.)
This
does not justify child abuse, which involves lasting harm caused by hatred or
loss of control. That is not love. Spanking is temporary pain given for the
child's good to motivate obedience, when it is clear the child knowingly
disobeyed. It should be given before the confrontation has escalated to the
point that the parent has lost his self-control.
God
requires parents to prepare children to live as adults. Adults need a proper
attitude toward authority figures who reward obedience and punish disobedience
- including civil rulers, employers, and God Himself. Children learn proper
attitudes toward other authority figures by first learning proper attitudes
toward parents themselves.
When
children are not taught to respect their parents, they will have great
difficulty learning to respect other authority figures. This is what leads many
to become delinquents, addicts, and/or criminals. That is true child abuse!
Have we
been influenced by the ideas held by the Children's Rights Movement? Have we
allowed our children to speak disrespectfully, to misbehave, or to violate
God's word without punishment? Are we afraid to stand up to our own children
and insist they obey us? Are we willing to obey God's command to use spanking
and other forms of punishment to enforce our God-given authority in love? What
will happen to our rights as parents if our government accepts the views of the
UN Convention?
Conclusion
=======
Remember,
this UN Convention applies to all children under age 18. And if passed it
becomes the supreme law of the land, alongside the Constitution and laws of
Congress.
Not
everything taught by the Child Rights Movement is wrong. No false system is
wrong on every point. Error is universally disguised by mixing it with truth
(Matthew 7:15; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). But the Child Rights movement, like
many similar movements, in many ways stands in fundamental rebellion against
God's plan for children, for the home, and for true service to God.
Furthermore,
Child Liberation completely misunderstands the true concept of
"liberty." A ship is truly free to reach its goal only when restricted
by the rudder. A train is free to reach its destination only when restricted by
the tracks. So, we are free to achieve a useful life only when we abide by
God's word (John 8:32). Those who promise liberty by rebelling against God's
rules, are themselves the slaves of all kinds of immorality (2 Peter 2:19).
When we follow such philosophies, like the train without the tracks, or the
ship without the rudder, our lives will end in ruin.
How well are you following God's plan for the family?
Primary Sources
==========
Christian Inquirer - 10/79
Phyllis Schlafly Report, 5/95
"Pro-Family Forum Newsletter" - 9/79
"Understanding
the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child," By Michael P. Farris,
12/15/2008; (this article has been significantly revised but was available at:)
http://www.parentalrights.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={2B53865E-A8C1-4FE6-AF67-08789FBE3C0A}
(C) Copyright 2012, David E. Pratte You are free to keep copies of this material on computer and/or in printed form for your own further study. If you have any other requests about the use of this material, please read our copyright guidelines at www.gospelway.com/copyrite.htm.
