Outchurched

The War on Festivus Christmas has begun, with the Marine Corps launching the first salvo:

A talking Jesus doll has been turned down by the Marine Reserves’ Toys for Tots program.

A Los Angeles company offered to donate 4,000 of the 1-foot-tall dolls, which quote Bible verses, for distribution to needy children this holiday season.

The battery-powered Jesus is one of several dolls manufactured by one2believe, a division of the Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co., based on biblical figures.

But the charity balked because of the dolls’ religious nature.

Toys are donated to kids based on financial need and “we don’t know anything about their background, their religious affiliations,” said Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Virginia.

As a government entity, Marines “don’t profess one religion over another,” Grein said Tuesday. “We can’t take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family.”

Follow me! I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life… until my batteries run out.

Apparently, the whole thing was actually just a big misunderstanding…

Michael La Roe, director of business development for both companies [one2believe and Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co.], said the charity’s decision left him “surprised and disappointed.”

“At first I was angry, but then I realized my error… the program is called ‘Toys for Tots’ not ‘Religious Bullshit for Tots.’ Boy, do I feel silly.”

(Ok, I confess… I made that last quote up.)

I bet the Marines would have reconsidered if they’d seen this awesome commercial for the dolls.

(h/t to Religious Freaks.)

This entry was posted by Rev. Dan on Wednesday, November 15th, 2006 at 4:32 am and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.