A private school in Palm Beach County, Florida, has stirred controversy after its lead pastor, Matt Baker, canceled Autism Awareness Week, describing it as "demonic." The decision has left parents, particularly those with children on the autism spectrum, feeling heartbroken and full of questions.
Trinity Christian Academy, where Baker serves as the lead pastor, was set to observe Autism Awareness Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness about those on the autism spectrum. However, in an email to the school community, Baker labeled the event as "idolatry and demonic," arguing that it exalted itself above the name of Christ.
"If Jesus Christ led Trinity, would HE have an Autism Awareness Week? Of course not! Why? Because anything that exalts itself above the name of Christ should be brought down," Baker wrote in the email. He further argued that initiatives like Autism Awareness Week, along with cultural figures like the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, were attempts to benefit from Christ's teachings without acknowledging Jesus as the ultimate authority.
The pastor's email sparked immediate backlash from parents, some of whom are now considering withdrawing their children from the school. Andrea Gallik, a mother of two children attending Trinity Christian Academy, including a son recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), expressed her shock and disappointment at the pastor's words.
"The email comes, and I feel like my heart stops beating because not once but twice he says that wearing this title of autism is demonic," Gallik said. "I'm offended as a Christian because I feel that he is using the Bible for his own interpretation. And his interpretation is offensive. Not just to my son but to any child, adult afflicted with autism. Breaks my heart. It breaks my heart."
Gallik also expressed concern that the pastor's message could perpetuate misunderstanding and negative perceptions of the autism community. She described her son as a "beautiful boy with a spirit, a healthy happy spirit," who doesn't view autism as something bad.
The cancellation of Autism Awareness Week at Trinity Christian Academy comes amid a broader trend of the school canceling and reframing activities and events to align with its Christian worldview, according to Baker. This year, the school also canceled its Easter egg hunt, a decision that was met with mixed reactions from the community.
Despite the controversy, some legal experts argue that the cancellation of Autism Awareness Week does not amount to discrimination. Shahar Pasch, a West Palm Beach education lawyer, noted that while people with autism are part of a federally protected class, the cancellation of the events does not specifically exclude these students or indicate that they are not welcome at the school.
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