While the forces of secularism are, according to Fox News, fighting a "war on Christians," Fox is busy trashing atheists who are making life miserable for these same Christians who are just trying to do the lord's work even when that work involves taxpayer dollars. On yesterday's Fox & Friends, Anna Kooiman lamented that atheists are suing a Florida city over government endorsement and promotion of a Christian themed prayer vigil. This morning, she continued the lamentations in a report about how public school fund raising, for a local evangelical church, is being thwarted by atheists. Once again, Kooiman seemed oblivious to the Constitutional issue and the facts of the case; but this is Fox & Friends...

Kooiman opened the "Fight for Faith" segment with a report about how, when a South Carolina school was "fundraising for a church's food drive," they got a "threatening letter" from nasty atheists who warned them that if the fund raising isn't stopped, they will be sued. Kooiman said that because the school fears a lawsuit, the food hasn't been delivered. (The food has been purchased through the school's sale of thank you notes purchased by and delivered to students during school hours.) Kooiman asked "what kind of lesson does this teach the students?" She introduced her guests, a student at the school and his mother.

In order to set up the premise that this fundraising shouldn't be stopped over mere Constitutional quibbles, Kooiman asked what "message" the fund raising sends to kids. Naturally, the child's mother waxed poetic about "caring" and "empathy," yadda, yadda. She explained that the thank-you cards help kids learn to appreciate others. On script, she said that the money goes to help "buy food." Kooiman upped the pity party with the comment that "here we are three days after Thanksgiving and and the food hasn't been delivered, it's heart breaking." She read the flyer sent by the student council which explained that the food will be donated "to a local church."

The child (who wasn't coached, right?) reiterated what his mom said about the awesomeness of the thank you cards. Kooiman: "Doing nice things for other people, it warms your heart during the holiday." Kooiman read the statement from the humanist group in which the group noted that parents would object to students raising money for a Muslim or atheist group. (Ya think!) Kooiman asked the mother if she felt the program "pushes Christianity or Jesus." After the mom said "absolutely not" and noted that the church's food pantry is near the school, Kooiman validated her with the comment that this is all about "community."

What you didn't hear on Fox & Friends: The fund raising flyer, sent home to the kids, states that "the cost is $1.00 and all proceeds will go to support the missions at Old Fort Baptist Church." Several parents complained about what they feel is a constitutional violation."

As the humanist organization suggested, if this were fund raising for a Muslim or atheist group, parents would be not be happy. Neither, I suspect, would Fox & Friends!