Woman Booted from Bus for Bible Reading

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:59 pm

Check out this load...it really is getting to be Orwellian around here:

Texas Woman Forced to Leave Bus After Reading Bible Out Loud

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

FORT WORTH -- A Fort Worth woman wants an apology from the city's mass transit system because of how she was treated Saturday while on her way to church. Christine Lutz claimed she was kicked off The T for reading the Bible aloud to her children.

Lutz said she was sitting in the back of the bus, but wasn't being disruptive. She claimed she was stunned when the bus driver interrupted her reading.

"She asked me to stop reading my Bible," Lutz told FOX 4. "I said, 'No, I'm reading the Bible, I'm teaching the kids, I'm going to continue.' And I continued."

Lutz said the next thing she knew, the bus had pulled over and she was being escorted into a supervisor's van, which then took her and her family to church.

Officials at The T said the incident had nothing to do with what Lutz was reading, just the fact that she was simply making too much noise. Signs on the bus warn against playing radios and loud behavior. Transportation officials claimed they asked Lutz to quiet down, and when she refused, they were forced to remove her from the bus.

"If she were reading 'Moby Dick' or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or reading anything else, the same thing would have occurred," said The T's Joan Hunter.

But the Liberty Legal Institute, which has fought many legal battles over religious issues, said The T is out of line.

"I'm extremely shocked that a bus driver would pull over and take time out of his busy schedule in order to kick off a lady and her two kids while they're trying to read the Bible on their way to church," said Hiram Sasser of the Liberty Legal Institute. "They should be ashamed of that."

Lutz said all she is looking for is an apology. She said in her mind, what happened this past weekend was religious persecution, and she refuses to go along for the ride.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:20 am

It would be interesting to hear from some of the other passengers as to how loud the "reading" was.

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:23 am

It is easy to say that the issue was related to the fact that it was the Bible she was reading, but she could have been reading Mother Goose for all that matters. If she was sitting at the back of the bus, and the driver (who is at the front of the bus) was disturbed enough to have to ask her to stop, I would question just how ‘quit’ her reading was.

It is probably more of an issue of the woman disturbing other passengers and the driver than the fact that it was the Bible she was reading from.

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:28 am

Anybody else think these people do it on pupose, make a huge fuss for which in any any circumstance there would be punishment but bringing into an element of discrimination to make a point?

Its like where i work, a customer came in with a baby, with an appointment which had been booked several days in advance, sat down and proceeded to take off her top - literally, it wasn't discreet - and breastfeed the baby.The male staff member who was dealing with her said he was not prepared to speak while she did it - note he did not ask her to stop -

guess which one got into trouble - the man for stepping away, or the woman for what was blatant nudity in public?

i also once had two gay men who were kissing each other, really making out, at my desk while i was trying to explain something to them, which was important, and would have caused them major difficulties if they had misunderstood, then i wondered if my actions could be misconstrued as homophobic.

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:36 am

A friend of mine’s husband is a teacher in a young offender’s prison. He teaches a small group of teenagers in a locked room.

Before Christmas he was attacked by one of the prisoners and was being choked. He defended himself and fought back, within reason..

Who do you think is now suspended from his job and is in major trouble?

We have surrendered the rights of the many for the rights of the few.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:52 am

This would be going soft on her. We need something that clearly teaches her a lesson.

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:54 am

There were two women yesterday afternoon in a frantic crowd all trying to get onto one small ferry which was running late. One shoved the other who shoved her back. They started insulting each other as soon as we all got onto the boat. One was a visitor from somewhere like Poland. The other, by her accent was obviously Engish, but she was brown skinned and possibly originally from India. She immediately accused the European woman of a racist attack. This wasn't about colour or race - it was about people being rude and thoughtless and impatient.

I can imagine that Bible reading woman was a complete pain in the a@@ - why the heck couldn't she read the Bible or the Koran or the speeches of Hillary Clinton to her kids in the privacy of her own home, and give them and other commuters a break.

The bus personnel still were considerate enough to take her and her children to church!!!

suzycreamcheese · Post by **suzycreamcheese** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:10 am

Bryn Mawr;752188 wrote: It would be interesting to hear from some of the other passengers as to how loud the "reading" was.

my thoughts too.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:34 am

why the heck couldn't she read the Bible or the Koran or the speeches of Hillary Clinton to her kids in the privacy of her own home, and give them and other commuters a break.

The bus personnel still were considerate enough to take her and her children to church!!!
I agree 100%.

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:01 am

I would of booted her off the bus too!!!! :wah: If people wanted to read the bible on the bus (or anything else for that matter) I'm sure they would have brought their own darn book. :wah:

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:05 am

Hmmm.

I wonder if the kids were making noise what might've happened.

"Madam you must keep your kids quiet or get off the bus!"

"Well, I used to read to them to settle them down. Would that be okay?"

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:01 pm

I can see the point you are making, but at the same time I would have to say that a bus is not the place to have a bible class, I couldn't think of many things more annoying than having to sit and listen to someone reading the bible (or any book for that matter) on a bus. I am sure she will have her day in court anyway, as it happened in America and your a great bunch for suing each other. Though we have also gone that way unfortunatly.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:19 pm

Everyone seems to have an opinion about everything. :wah:

grh · Post by **grh** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:24 pm

lemon_and_mint;752208 wrote: .....

i also once had two gay men who were kissing each other, really making out, at my desk while i was trying to explain something to them, which was important, and would have caused them major difficulties if they had misunderstood, then i wondered if my actions could be misconstrued as homophobic.

Next time something like that happens, whip out the cellphone and start snapping shots...

:wah:

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:24 pm

I wonder what would have happened if it had been a large black woman citing passages from Dr. Martin Luther Kings " I have a dream" Speech?

grh · Post by **grh** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:27 pm

AussiePam;752219 wrote: .....

The bus personnel still were considerate enough to take her and her children to church!!!

I agree! If it had been me, I would have just pulled over and tossed her bible-thumping butt off!:-6

yaaarrrgg · Post by **yaaarrrgg** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:29 pm

I'm amazed that parents read those Bible stories to kids ... they are so gruesome and bloody. Not everyone wants to hear about people being tortured, beheaded, drowned, eaten by animals, eyes gouged out, etc. Should be rated R.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:31 pm

I think you missed my point, RJ.

I've driven and ridden on many buses. Unless something's changed very recently they are LOUD. I think 1 of 2 things happened. Either:

1) She was really loud and obnoxious, looking to stir something up, or

2) She was reading next to a jerk, possibly the driver, who didn't want to hear it.

Either would be unacceptable