A group of mothers who began a school lunch program called “Jesus Lunch” are being targeted by the school superintendent and principal for promoting religion during public school hours.
Christian Today reports that the mothers started the program in 2014 by bringing lunches with inspirational, Christian messages for their children to a local park nearby the Middleton, Wisconsin high school.
The program has now grown to include nearly 500 students.
"We show up every week just to show the love of Jesus," parent Beth Williams told Fox News. "Our mission statement for Jesus Lunch is 'food for the body, nutrition for the soul.’”
However, the school’s superintendent, Donald Johnson, and principal, Stephen Plank, have called the “Jesus Lunch” program “divisive,” and have taken action to have it stopped.
"We believe that religious or political events do not have a place in our school or on our campus, except when sponsored by a student group in accordance with our rules, which require prior approval," they said in an email sent to parents last April 12.
The school authorities added that parents are violating school food preparation standards, and that all food served to students must be approved by the school or the district.
The administrators also said that the park where the “Jesus Lunch” takes place is on school property.
The mothers’ lawyer, Phillip Stamman, says that the school administrators’ attack on the mothers is unwarranted.
“These are mothers. They are spending all their time and effort to show love for these kids and now they are being attacked by a superintendent and principal — trying to intimidate them," he said.
"The [school district] is going after them because they are spreading a religious message. They are upset because they are sharing Christianity,” he added.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: April 18, 2016
