Conservative Christian author, Kirk Cameron, has been rejected by roughly 50 public libraries on the basis of his religious beliefs, according to information released by his publisher, Brave Books. The Rochambeau Public Library in Providence, Rhode Island, for instance, openly dismissed Cameron’s request to share his new children’s book, As You Grow, saying, “We are a very queer-friendly library. Our messaging does not align.” The City Heights/Weingart Branch Library in San Diego, California, noted, “Because of how diverse our community is, I don’t know how many people you would get.”
Others simply rejected the request saying the program just wasn’t something they were interested in. Indianapolis Public Library, for example, argued they had a strategic plan in place for their book reading events noting they are “really looking at authors who are diverse. Authors of color. That’s really been our focus.” They continued stating they are focusing on racial equity after Cameron’s publisher pointed out the Christian-themed book is itself diverse.
Cameron responded to the rejections by saying, “Publicly funded libraries are green-lighting ‘gender marker and name change clinics’ while denying a story time that would involve the reading of a book that teaches biblical wisdom. How much more clear can it get?” He is, of course, correct. The rejections received were extremely transparent as the issuers personally objected to the perceived message of Cameron’s book and said no.
The immediate reaction from many conservatives, naturally, is to recognize the stark contrast between LGBT-themed events at public libraries and the difficulty Cameron is having sharing his children’s title. The San Diego library, for example, hosts many LGBT-themed events and organizes with LGBT organizations, including hosting a ‘queer’ book club. On its website, it states, “Telling our stories, highlighting the rich diversity … Those themes that are so important of love, acceptance and inclusion and seeing yourself represented in the books that are reading.” It is obvious those in charge of these libraries have an agenda….
The above comes from a December 9 story on the Federalist.com.
Democrats: pushers of the new racism.
When men in drag can read sexualized stories to young children at public libraries and Kirk Cameron cannot read a family and faith based story, something deeply disturbing and wrong is happening. And, this is happening at Alameda County libraries as well as in San Diego and throughout our once-great state. Lord, have mercy on all.
We can stoically await the day
when the CA public school
system reduces literally everybody
to abject illiteracy and MAYBE then
they will close ALL public libraries.
I have no idea why you’d get a down vote for this comment.
Librarians are even lower than schoolteachers in intelligence and class and morals.
Why do people put up with this? Thirty years ago, the things that are tolerated today in schools and libraries would not have been permitted nor tolerated anywhere in America.
It’s time to consider closing community public libraries. Defund the libraries.
And we need to also defund colleges and universities mired deeply in immoral, politically correct, liberal-leftist, anti-society, 1960s garbage, training and indoctrinating future school teachers and librarians. All LGBT propaganda, and all dirty, obscene, pornographic, racist, anti-Semitic, terrorist, or violent books and media, and all subversive, anti-society, anti-American books and media, should all be strictly prohibited in our libraries and public schools. Censorship, and refusal to push offensive or dangerous materials that are harmful to our families and communities, is a big responsibility. All schools, colleges, libraries, and institutions in our country, need to be regulated by good standards, and a good Code of Ethics– or else, be shut down permanently.
What many today have either forgotten — or may be too young to know– is that there have always been, and always will be, wayward, unstable, immoral, radical “kooks” on the fringes of society, peddling goofed-up, radical, far-right, far-left, or nutty religious ideas, or dangerous criminal activities (including dope, pornography, and all sexual sins), and even plotting very dangerous revolutions, including wars and assassinations. Before the 1960s, an educated, church/synagogue-going American populace in our country, always used to laugh at them and their schemes. Good laws regulated how far a deviant, “radical goofball” couId go. These types of “fringe” people and their ideas have always needed to be watched, monitored and severely restricted in their destructive activities, by law enforcement, and by politicial leaders, clergy, and community leaders. You always must guard your country and its communities, for safety, like a guard-dog. There are always going to be deviant wolves and criminals lurking, with sick, destructive minds, seeking a chance to destroy everything you have, and annihilate your entire civilization. Freedom is not “free,” it is a big responsibility.
Before the post-war era, and before the 1960s era, kids were not babied. Learning responsibility from an early age was necessary, for the family’s survival. Adolescence was brief. You went to school, learned a trade, matured and became an adult, and usually got married by your early 20s.
A boy interested to become a priest could join the Minor Seminary at age 14– and was usually ordained at age 23, in those days. Reading, writing, and comprehension skills used to be much higher in our country– an average 8th grade graduate typically had greater overall literacy and life skilks, and a more mature understanding of life, than many college graduates, today. Even those like Pres. Abraham Lincoln, with only a few years of formal schooling, had far greater literacy and overall life skills. Nothing was ever “dumbed-down.” You always read books, the Bible, newspapers, and other material, written in a professional, mature style– and understood it, and were used to it. No goofed-up, liberal-leftist, educational psychologist, ever “dumbed-down” anything, or insisted that a child or adult, at any age or stage, could or could not have the capability to do or to understand certain things, or that it was “cruel” to “demand” that someone get real serious, and learn something. You just did it, that’s all. And Christian Morality, though demanding at times for some, was a “must” to learn– no babying, no “dumbing-down.” Confession of sin and repentance was necessary. Maturity was expected.
That was all an expression of white supremacy, you see. Anything excellent is white supremacy these days.
This person routinely makes these weird comments.
Notice how they never say what their own personal history is or what their family history is.
They don’t know the US social history.
Maybe all they know is the sanitized impressions from movies or children’s books.
I believe it was sarcasm.
You are probably too young to know anything of history– especially, American life and history before the 1960s, when our country started to be destroyed by immature, immoral, violent, filthy “hippie” youth, and sick, violent, filthy liberal-leftist activists. An absolute horror to have to live through.
1960 was 62 years ago.
Most Americans are too young to remember that.
I am not too young to remember but what I remember is how mean people were to “hippies”
I remember people being called “red” or “yellow” because they didn’t want to kill someone they didn’t even know in a jungle no one heard of before.
I remember seeing the dead bodies of politicians and civil rights leaders and seeing their little children at their funerals.
Yeah it was a horror to live through.
And it is back now and even worse.
Doesn’t sound like you were growing up in a good Catholic home– or even a good Protestant or Jewish home, with good religious, moral, and patriotic beliefs and values, and a solid understanding of it all. In the JFK era, there were no filthy, Godless, rebellious hippies– just a few awful, disgusting, lowlife beatniks in the gutter, pretending to be awful “writers,” “poets,” and “musicians.” But JFK was pretty young and liberal, and there were some new people and programs that were too leftist.
Even if what you describe actually existed in some places or some families, Jesus says not to look back.
Luke 17:32
Luke 9:62
No way! You are supposed to be intelligent, study history well– and learn well from it! Do mot repeat mistakes of history, such as Hitler’s horrific Jewish Holocaust! Jesus quoted constantly from his Jewish Bible, the Torah. He was well-versed in Jewish history– and was a huge part of it, as the Jewish Messiah, foretold of the ages! The only time you are advised to “not look back,” is when forgiving past mistakes– learn from your errors, forgive them, don’t dwell on them, and go forward in life!
Yes, of course, you can read the Bible and learn history.
That is not what he was talking about.
You should look things up before you post your false impressions.
Some immature fool is downvoting every single good comment, defending teaching good values to kids, like conservative Christian actor and children’s author, Kirk Cameron. You are obviously neither Catholic nor Christian, nor a good American. And obviously do not believe in teaching good values to kids. Maybe you prefer the Satanic Drag Queen Story Hour? Shame on you! Go to your local library, check out a copy of the Bible, and read it, and learn from it!
It is a public website.
And downvoting is on Twitter.
This is disliking and a person may dislike any comment for any reason.
This website deals in controversy.
Not everybody is going to have your values.
No. This is a CATHOLUC website, the California Catholic Daily. Stop trolling! Go to Twitter and make your comments. This website is not for you.
Getting back to bullying?
Downvoting and trolling are immature acts of bullying.
So your definition of bullying is merely disagreeing with you? Sheesh, glad I’m not married to you! Living in a bubble doesn’t solve any problems.
Downvoting and trolling are very negative, nasty, immature acts. Glad you are not the downvoter!
Bullying is not disagreeing, straw man.
The sun will rise tomorrow. Someone did something kind for another person.
(Watch what will happen.)
LOL How long did it take for “Someone did something kind for another person” to get a thumbs down? Or, maybe it’s that they don’t like the sun.
At least one reader is chronically negative. I hope they wouldn’t thumbs down “Merry Christmas! The Lord came to us and will come again.”
If so, they should see a counselor or exorcist. It must be difficult to live with such a perspective of even good news. God bless them.
there are bots that can be programmed to do anything online
A School Board in Pennsylvania just had a lady member shamefully resign, over foolish, immature remarks she made, when voting to select a School Board president. There were two candidates for president, a man and a woman. The ignorant lady stated that a regular, normal man (who was not even a transgender man!) should not run for School Board president, because he would “not represent diversity” in their community. There was a fiery uproar– and the stupid, liberal-leftist, foolish lady School Board member resigned! Good! No one needs such a horrid, ignorant School Board member!
Look up the book. It is not about Christianity at all.
It is a book where if you buy it there are a lot more books that you will have to buy and they are expensive books.
They have gotten a lot of publicity but it is ‘faith based” not Christian.
Buy books on the Saints.
You ought to know that a teacher or librarian cannot, by law, use books that are overtly religious, with religious teachings of a particular religious faith, like a CCD class at a Catholic church, or a Protestant Sunday School class!! However, teachers and librarians can and should use many fine books for children, that promote good, Biblically-based, timeless values and ideals! That kind of book is what Kirk Cameron wrote. And it is particularly sickening, that deviant, diabolical, liberal-leftist crackpot librarians and teachers, refuse to use this good book, for their Story Hours! When I was a child, that was the only kind of book they would use– good books, that promote Good Character, with high ideals, based on Christian teachings! You were supposed to learn the “moral of the story,” and learn phrases like, “Do unto others….(etc.)” But the librarians or teachers, reading good books, would never tell you where “Do unto others.others… ” comes from. In some public schools, long ago, a Bible reading might be a part of the day. And in all public schools, Nativity plays, and religious as well as secular Christmas Carols were the norm. I recall a neighbor making a wooden Manger, for his wife’s first grade class, at a local public school, for their Nativity presentation. We lived in a semi-rural suburban area, and had horses, a donkey, and other beloved animals, so I was eager to see their Manger!
Have you read this book?
Have you?
No I have not.
You can teach you children Catholicism and Christ-like values without buying expensive books.
Books that hide Christ and the Holy Spirit behind lions and trees.
The point of Narnia was to engage children who did not know Jesus so that when they heard the story of Jesus they would have a background of understanding and acceptance.
It was not made to replace Jesus in Christian homes.
What is the difference between these and a book that peace, love and care of creation with no mention of God?
Our main Catholic church in town, was founded and built by devout Irish-Catholics. Today, the church is a beautiful historical landmark– but may eventually be closed by the Bishop, for dwindling membership. The parish school was closed in the early 1970s, when the teaching nuns left. Across the street from us, lived our family doctor, and his wife and five children. He still made house calls, with his “black bag.” Near our horse barn and paddock, lived a Catholic family of eight children. I had to use a footpath to cross a creek next to their house, to go feed our horses and other animals. Down the street from us, lived an Irish Catholic State senator and his family. He was from Boston, and attended a prestigious school founded by one of my ancestors. He was a local Democratic Party chairman, in a completely different era in our country. We all had horses and other animals, in this lovely, semi-rural area, and I took care of the State senator’s horses and other animals, as well as other neighbors’ horses and animals, when they went on vacation. Nobody ever locked their doors. There was a zero crime rate every year. Every family went to the church of their choice, on Sundays. Except the Jews went to Synagogue, and a few Seventh-Day Adventist families went to church on their Sabbath. The town was primarily Eastern Orthodox. Ideal place for families and children! Hope my childhood church can be kept open by the local Bishop– and hope future Catholic families will come and worship there! May this evil era of today, quickly pass away!
That is an atypical upbringing.
You are blessed to have those memories.
Not atypical. All America was once more rural, living by good religious, moral, and patriotic beliefs and values. Very neighborly, too, no matter where your family originally immigrated from– a “melting pot,” working all together, to make good neighborhoods, towns, and a good country that they believed in, and were proud of.
That is the problem with your posts. You generalize your experience on to everyone. I do think things were similar to yours in many small towns and rural communities.
Since 1920, more Americans lived in cities than in rural areas.
Some rural areas were not the idyllic situation that you had.
And a lot of Americans were not welcome in those areas.
There were bad neighbors. There was alcohol abuse and spousal abuse and child abuse.
There was rape and incest.
Most Americans could not even dream of a life like yours with land and horses and apparently a lot of freedom.
Most rural people, even children, worked from daylight to sunset and still had very little.
If you gardened and the rains came and nothing killed your chickens you had eggs and vegetables.
You could hunt and fish and if God provided, you would have some meat.
No. You must realize, we once had a much better America– long before your time. With hard work, dedication and prayer, our once-great country can be restored.
If you lived in a community where Irish-Americans were well regarded, then you did not live in a typical area of the US.
In most places the Irish were considered drunks and ne’er do wells.
If you had Eastern Orthodox prominent in your community, then that is not typical.
You were blessed.
If you want that for America, you should write children’s books about it.
Most people in the US could not even conceive of being brought up in a community like that.
They don’t even know that it exists.
How are you going to restore something that people either don’t want or don’t even know can be?
Me– there is no problem with my post, nor with any other post. You should not react so wildly to them. You are jumping to wild conclusions, probably because you are all upset over the cost of Kirk Cameron’s book. If you don’t like the book, or its cost– that’s fine. So be it. And I never said my hometown was Irish! And there is certainly nothing wrong with any ethnic group. Our hometown was made up of lots of immigrants from various countries. And the predominant ethnic groups were Eastern Europeans, who spoke Slavic languages, and belonged to Eastern Orthodox churches. Irish-Catholics built our church. And that’s all. Yes, there is a huge Christian conservative movement, joined in by our Church, along with many other churches, to restore religion, morality, a good education for children, and the good Culture of Life, in America! Yes, people badly want the good Culture of Life, which is from our Creator, God! Many just have to “wake up” to ser the truth. More and more people also want Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn, and to ban abortion, LGBT garbage in the schools, CRT, and all dangerous, destructive works of Satan and his minions. Believe me– we once had a much better country! And we are all working and praying for the restoration of America, to reclaim all that was lost, and to establish the Culture of Life, and bring people back to God. You might want that, too.
You must realize, that a good and decent American town or city, where people live decently, by good Christian beliefs and values, have good schools, safe neighborhoods for children, and are neighborly, friendly, and helpful, go to church/synagogue regularly, are hard-working, law-abiding and have low crime rates– that is not “idyllic.” It simply reflects a past era, with good and decent people! A much better Nation!
Sinclair Lewis said in 1927, if you have a village of 3 houses, one of those houses will be a slum.
I live in real rural America.
It is not like what you portray it as at all.
I am sure as a child you were not aware of the problems.
An area with horses and property is not typical of rural America at all.
You had a blessed childhood.
Norman Rockwell’s America really was not real. It was an ideal.
We need to pray for America so that it becomes even better than that for all Americans.
And pray for rural America because it has tons of problem including drugs and poor health care.
Dear Not Christian,
Brave books are not more expensive than other new children’s hardcover books. Of course, you can buy Bye Bye, Binary (a perverse children’s book) in paperback at Target for only $9. Brave Books is a new publishing company, definitely not Big Books or Big Publishing. Here’s what their founders say:
“We founded Brave Books because while we were trying to raise our children to love their God and country, we became more and more aware that there is a real war being waged for the hearts and minds of the next generation. There is an agenda to confuse and demoralize our children and make them hate their country and the values that it was founded upon. To us, it felt like a one-sided battle. That’s why BRAVE Books created an alternative to the current progressive agenda dominating children’s literature. Each book teaches a new traditional value that makes America so special.”
I just read that Drag Queens were invited to the White House today, among a big “queer assembly,” invited to watch President Biden sign the (Dis)Respect for Marriage Act onto law. Sick! Of course– Drag Queens are actually deviant cross-dressing men, wearing gaudy, garish, flamboyant women’s clothing and jewelry, with wigs and make-up.
The “Drag Queen” men should respect our country, and should all dress correctly, in suits and ties, when visiting the White House, for a formal ceremony with the President of the United States. Hope this wrongful new law is soon overturned! It violates God’s creation of Marriage as the union of Man and Woman.
Many youngsters today, are being wrongfully taught a horrific disrespect for our Nation. The sick, crackpot liberal-leftists teaching them wrongfully, should all be fired, and permanently barred from teaching or working with children. That includes sick, immoral, crackpot liberal-leftist librarians, peddling pornography, and related LGBT deviant, filthy material, and anti-American books and propaganda.
I guess you don’t understand how America works.
And leave some adjectives for the rest of us.
For those who are complaining about Kirk Cameron’s book– what is your problem, exactly, with this book? I ordered it on Amazon, and look forward to receiving it — and reading it myself, to young children! It is a picture book, one of a series, for the very young, with beautiful pictures telling most of the story, as picture books do. It is a story about the Biblical Fruits of the Spirit, and their importance in life, building Good Character, as we grow up. The story is told in a small child’s way. There is a Biblical verse as an epilogue. The book is obviously not a didactic teaching tool, for a Catholic Catechism class (Cameron is Protestant)– but is simply a good book for all children– and older kids and adults, too. The book has with it, a Secret Letter Puzzle, a Workbook and Games, a Map Poster, and Character and Flag stickers. Plus– a Top Secret Letter! Sounds wonderful! So, you “anti-Cameron book fiends”– tell us your objections to this book! Cameron is on news shows and YouTube, teaching all about the importance of Biblical Marriage of Man and Woman, and Christian beliefs and values! Sounds better than many of our priests and bishops, of today’s era! Kirk Cameron has six children. I have a big magnet with fruits on it, and the “Fruits of the Spirit” Biblical verse, on my refrigerator door. Very attractive, good to look at, and think about!
This is how it works now. Someone who points out the book is not Christian but faith based and that it is expensive and that to complete the series you will be spending a lot of money is now a …Anti-Cameron Book Fiend.
No they are a friend. Learn who your friends are.
Wrong. You are no “friend!” And you seem to have no experience with raising children! All children’s books and other children’s items, are costly, these days. Set aside money for your children’s needs, and sacrifice for them! You can get good bargains at places like Target and Walmart, as well as Amazon, online. Children can also share books. Every home should have a snall collection of good children’s books! And you do not have to buy the whole series. Just buy a few good books for your kids, ones that impart good values only! Read these books aloud to your children, and discuss good values being taught. Parents typically go to the children’s library often, and check out a bunch of books. You can do that, too. Always set aside your money for your children’s needs. A good book that teaches good values, is not a “frill”– it is an absolute “must.” Especially for the Catholic family home! How much do you and your spouse’s “frills” cost? Sacrifice! Good books for children are a MUST in the family home– especially, for Catholics!
Remember, Kirk Cameron’s book has much more that you get, along with the big, 48-page picture book– it has games, a workbook, puzzles, etc. It sells for $18.51 online, at Amazon. The last time I bought a cute picture book, with Christmas stories, rhymes and songs, and pop-ups with cute Chrustmas bells and other sounds– I paid $21.95. Adorable! Lots of fun to read and play with, with a small toddler or preschooler! Very short, small picture books might cost less, for $9 or so– but you get a smaller, shorter story book, like “Goodnight Moon,” or Eric Carle’s books (“Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” etc.). Many longer, larger, colorful children’s picture books now cost between $12-$20.
And it takes 7 more books to complete-a total of $160.
Did you learn nothing from Happy Meals?
This is how they market to kids and parents.
You can get lots of good books at your local children’s library. Your parish church and school, or homeschooling group, will also have good children’s books, too. Every single thing you buy, has a “marketing” scheme behind it– even religious items from good religious companies. It has mothing to do with your silly “Happy Meals” idea. Book companies and all other enterprises cannot last, without financial support to pay costs! Children need good books to read– that is the most important thing. And they need to be read to, from birth onwards. You also form deep, lasting bonds with your children, when you read aloud to them, and discuss things in the book.
You can’t argue that the books aren’t expensive or that they are Christian, instead of “faith-based” because there is not an argument-they are.
But you have to keep arguing so you set up a straw man and pretend to be arguing about whether reading to kids is good for them.
No one said it wasn’t.
Straw man, think “children and family,” not yourself– and go see to their needs! Never tell your wife and kids, “your needs cost too much!” Horrible! Grow up! Everything costs money! So– go to work, provide for your wife and children! How evil, for parents to vomplain about the costs of raising children! You can get a child a library card the day they are born, and go check out books, films, recordings, anything! Education is a great thing, and good books are a necessity! Your Catholic parish school or homeschooling group can help.
Straw man, think “children and family,” not yourself– and go see to their needs! Never tell your wife and kids, “your needs cost too much!” Horrible! Grow up! Everything costs money! So– go to work, provide for your wife and children! How evil, for parents to complain about the costs of raising children! You can get a child a library card the day they are born, and go check out books, films, recordings, anything! Education is a great thing, and good books are a necessity! Your Catholic parish school or homeschooling group can help.
Straw man again.
Now, I’m a deadbeat dad?
Because I told the truth.
Some people just don’t like the truth and kill the messenger.
Well, I guess I sound a little too rough, on this subject… But the truth is– books are not a waste of money. There was a recent news story, in which a guy 50 years ago, was trying to fix up a sports car, and ran into some problems. He was an engineer, and went over to the nearby library, to see if he could find a book on his particular sports car– and he did! The book was very helpful to him. But then, he forgot to return the book to the library! The book got lost, somehow– but then recently, it was found– after 50 years! And the man, now retired, took it right back to the library– along with some money, to pay the fine– but there was no longer a fine! So funny! Today, most libraries no longer require fines, as they have been abolished, to encourage readers.
One of my all-time favorite children’s books is “The Velveteen Rabbit,” published in 1922 by the English-American author, Margery Williams Bianco. It has a beautiful, timeless message to teach! Then, I will always love C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” and “Chronicles of Narnia,” with Christian symbolism and messages. There are many more classic children’s books, to keep and to cherish, lifelong. Books like these should be in every family home.
The value of good books for children, and reading, as well as reading aloud to children, is immense! This is highly important for a great number of things: to develop and enhance reading, writing, and speaking skilks, expand vocabulary, stimulate imagination, promote brain development, concentration, and memory, promote intellectual development, develop listening and awareness skilks, develop language and emotions, learn about the world and increase understanding of it, develop good character, morality, and an understanding of right and wrong, and much more! Children should be read aloud to, from the day they’re born. Reading aloud to your children develops and strengthens lifelong family bonds.
When a child reads silently, or is read aloud to, and you discuss many things in a story, and ask lots of good questions, and encourage them to answer, and keep going, examining the story, characters, likes/dislikes, ideas, feelings, opinions, etc. — and talk about new words and new concepts, too– it helps stimulate a child’s imagination, thinking skilks, concentration, listening, comprehension and awareness skills, speaking skilks, language and vocabulary, emotional, social and intellectual capabilities– and much more! Books are a great treasure — a doorway to a wonderful world of discovery.
Candace Cameron Bure, an outspoken evangelical Christian actress, is the sister of Kirk Cameron. Both champion traditional Christian Biblically-based beliefs and values.
At the bottom of this page there is a good list of Catholic publishers.
https://www.heartofamother.net/curriculum/
I think I will place an order for ten copies of Kirk Cameron’s book, and donate them to the San Francisco Public Library system, and request that these books be placed in various children’s library branches. Then, parents can help their children check out a copy of this book. That will help! Maybe someday, a children’s librarian will choose to read it, during Story Hour.
The books will be refused and/or thrown away. Why do you waste money?
No. It’s just a book. Soneone will be interested. I will not be promoting the book for the book comoany, or for the celebrity author, on TV, or for any cause. Just donate a nice book, that’s all. It will fall into the right hands. You need a stronger Catholic faith. Have a heart, try to do a little good in the world, for Jesus. “Waste your life” a little bit, for Him– as He did, for us!
buy the series