9-Year-Old Banned from Christmas Party "Because He Didn't Believe in Jesus"

Posted by Paddy , Cliff Schecter's Blog at 5:18 AM on December 22, 2007.

The "War On Christmas" gone bad.

Teachers banned a nine-year-old boy from his class Christmas party because his parents had barred him from RE (ed note- religious education) lessons.

Douglas Stewart was forced to stay at home while his friends received presents from Santa and tucked into ice cream and jelly.

His parents were told he was not welcome at the celebration because they had pulled him out of religious eduction classes earlier in the year.

Can't even begin to tell you how many Jewish holiday gatherings I've been to in my life. No one ever checked my bona fides at the door.

Headmaster Ian Davidson said that because the youngster had no interest in religion he could not celebrate the birth of Christ.

Furious mother Dawn Riddell, 38, said yesterday: "I've helped out at the Christmas party before and it's got absolutely nothing to do with Jesus. Douglas was heartbroken he couldn't go. It was cruel."

(snip)

As the family have no religious beliefs, Miss Riddell had asked for them to be exempt from RE lessons.

But she was stunned when the head called with the news about the party.

She contacted Moray Council to find out its policy on school parties and was told these were non-religious.

Sounds like someone got a bug in their saddle over the fact the family was "non-religious" and decided to be a Grinch. Or maybe England is in the forefront on the "War On Christmas" and they've already won. Either way, it won't be covered by O'Reilly.

Tagged as: religion, christmas

Paddy is a regular contributor to Cliff Schecter.com.