A bill to consolidate the state’s early-childhood operations into a single division has drawn criticism from an evangelical 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 across 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 SB 130 on Thursday but will continue the discussion today.
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 day-care 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 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,” church officials wrote. “Today, there is an effort to circumvent not only U.S. law but the fundamental right of parents through the U.N., via a treaty called the U.N. 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 … .”
Church officials could not be reached for comment.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327, lbartels@denverpost.com
