A bill to consolidate the state’s early childhood operations into a single division has drawn criticism from a Colorado Springs church and others who claim it’s part of a United Nations conspiracy to take decisions away from parents.
Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, said her bill is the culmination of months of meetings around the state and simply centralizes early childhood offices.
“I recognize sometimes there is a fear of government, but a conspiracy? No,” she said.
The Senate briefly debated Senate Bill 130 today, but will continue the discussion Friday.
Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, opposes the measure, which creates a New Office of Childhood Development under the state Human Services Department. He believes it is destined to grow.
“They have big plans to expand areas and to create more intrusive and mandated systems for private daycare centers and for families,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s the state telling the parent, “We think we should be more involved in your child’s life than we are today.”
Newell has been plied with e-mails and letters from groups, including a newsletter from WellSprings Evangelical Church, raising some of the same concerns as Lundberg.
“The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right of the family,” the church wrote. “Today, there is an effort to circumvent not only US law, but the fundamental right of parents through the UN via a treaty called the UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD.”
WellSprings claims the Senate bill intends to “make the state responsible for child rearing at first … eventually shifting the full responsibility to the state, stripping parental rights even in the home.” It also claims the bill is a “massive abuse of government power against families, home schooling … .”
The church could not be reached for comment.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
