Paradise Post reported on Feb. 18th that the Butte County District Attorney’s Office was examining the ministry, No Greater Joy Ministry in connection to 7 year-old Lydia Schatz’s death. The Paradise Post has recently published a follow up piece, Questions about ministry grow, the district attorney talks of Michael and Debi Pearl and their No Greater Joy Ministry:
In addition to the quarter-inch plumbing supply line, District Attorney Ramsey said he now has evidence that is a direct connection between the Schatz case and the teaching of the Pearls and No Greater Joy Ministry. However, he would not disclose the evidence at this time. It is unlikely however, that the Pearls or their ministry would be, or could be, held accountable in any legal sense.
Ramsey doesn’t believe such a charge “would fly.” He says the Pearls have specifically warned its followers against hitting children, or spanking in any way that severely injures children – which the Schatzes are accused of doing. They also warn parents not to spank their children in anger.
Even if the Pearl’s can’t be held legally accountable Muse Mama is bringing back the boycott:
I am asking that other parents join in another Boycott. But I think we need to go a bit further than just our blogs. I think we need to talk to our Pastors, write letters to our Homeschool organizations, write local talk radio hosts who might discuss it, and talk to other parents. We have to get the word out that these methods don’t place the rod of discipline in parents hands, but a loaded gun. If parents follow these instructions to the letter, it is a manual for child abuse.
In the May 5th, 2004 edition of the NewsComm Newsletter, Editor Ann Lahrson Fisher, wrote:
Because homeschoolers are routinely stereotyped by the behaviors of a tiny minority, homeschooling freedoms for all may be endangered. Can homeschoolers who decry the whipping of children afford NOT to speak out against this antiquated child rearing practice?
And if the media comes knocking, hoping for another horror story for the Dark Side of Homeschooling Part 3 – Baby Whipping, just what are we going to say to them if we don’t stand up against using this device?
I recommend you read the voices of these strong Christian women:
in which I discuss the unthinkable
The Pearls, abuse and a false gospel
How many children must die before Mike & Debi Pearl are held accountable?
HEM
Helen
Tracy
mark
marynix
ann-lahrson-fisher
valerie
sandi
david
Hi,
The html for the boycott logo is available on Muse Mama’s site so people can grab it and put on their own blog or website. (I’m hoping to also make it available on Parent at the Helm by late this afternoon.)
Additionally, there’s some momentum on Facebook called “SPEAKING UP.” The boycott logo is available on the Parent at the Helm page. People are asked to place SPEAKING UP in their status line, and attach the logo. Additionally, a growing number of us are using the logo as our profile pic. I invite everyone to grab the logo and join in – enough is enough! Thanks for covering this.
Thank you for speaking up, I’ve just become a fan and will be showing my support for your magazine by subscribing.
Thanks for speaking up. My own blog post on this is at http://comewearymoms.blogspot.com/2010/02/child-discipline-or-child-abuse.html
Virginia Knowles
Home schooling mom of 10
I have a petition to ban corporal punishment of children. We can change the law if all of the people opposed would speak up rather then not speaking up. People who advocate corporal punishment of children like Michael Pearl and Ted Tripp have spoken loudly and subsequently countless children have been violently assaulted.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/america39s-behind–ban-the-physical-assault-of-children…
I also have a moderated group that stands to serve as a place to discuss practical ideas for banning the practice.
insert yahoo groups as the spam filter wont let me type the whole address.
group/bancorporalpunishmentofchildren/
I assume you have seen that another death has been linked to the Pearls?
http://www.scribd.com/doc/66907264/Probable-Cause