Muslim Parent Upset Over School Flyer Promoting Church’s Easter Egg Hunt
My initial reaction to this was, “Seriously? You’re making an issue of an Easter Egg hunt?” First of all, despite its having become part of many Christians’ Easter celebrations, it’s not exactly a religious event as the origins of the symbolism of both the bunny and the colored eggs predate Christianity.
Second, it’s my understanding based on this article an a couple of others that the church didn’t put their name or logo on the flyer, nor was it decorated with any crosses or other religious symbols.
Third, well… I guess don’t really have a third point, I just feel conflicted about it. I understand there are (or have been) Christian groups that target the Dearborn community for various reasons, but this just seems like a nontroversy that probably won’t do anything but (possibly) breed resentment.
Am I way off base? Anyone care to chime in—especially the atheists?
Some Muslim parents are concerned about public schools in Dearborn handing out flyers to all students advertising an Easter egg hunt, saying it violates the principle of church and state separation.
A flyer headlined “Eggstravaganza!” was given to students this week at three elementary schools in the Dearborn Public Schools district, which has a substantial number of Muslim students. The flyer described an April 12 event at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church in Dearborn featuring an egg hunt, relay race, and egg toss. It asked students to RSVP “to secure your free spot” and included images of eggs and a bunny.
“It really bothered my two kids,” said parent Majed Moughni, who is Muslim and has two children, ages 7 and 9, in Dearborn elementary schools. “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.’ “
Moughni said he’s concerned about “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.” […]
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