Charter rights violated for couple who refused to tell foster kids Easter Bunny is real

A couple's charter rights were violated when a children's aidsociety closed the pair's foster home over their refusal to tell twoyoung girls the Easter Bunny is real, an Ontario court has ruled.

Frances and Derek Baars, who describe themselves as a Christiancouple with "strong religious faith," took the Children's AidSociety of Hamilton to court in April 2017, about a year after thegirls in their care aged three and five were taken away andtheir foster home was closed.

The couple said the Easter Bunny was at the core of the disputeand argued telling children in their care the character was real wasa violation of their religious beliefs a position Superior CourtJudge A.J. Goodman agreed with.

"There is ample evidence to support the fact that the childrenwere removed because the Baars refused to either tell or imply thatthe Easter Bunny was delivering chocolate to the Baars' home,"Goodman wrote in a decision releasedTuesday. "I am more thansatisfied that the society actions interfered substantially with theBaars' religious beliefs."

Court heard that CAS support worker Tracey Lindsay had visitedthe Baars and acknowledged that the girls looked well cared for inall respects.

However, the Baars argued Lindsay told them it was part of theirduty as foster parents to teach the girls about the Easter Bunny,court documents show.

The Baars told Lindsay they intended to hide chocolate eggs andhave the girls find them on Easter and play other games, but didn'tplan to speak to the children about the Easter Bunny, unless thegirls specifically asked questions about the character, documentssaid.

'Very thankful' for the judge's decision

The CAS contended Lindsay "never asked (the Baars) to lie orbetray their faith."

Goodman found the Baars did try to have the children enjoyholidays such as Easter and Christmas.

"There is sufficient evidence to assert that the Baars did,indeed, attempt to preserve the children's enjoyment of theholidays, even of they were not able, pursuant to their religiousbeliefs, to positively perpetuate the existence of the fictitiouscharacters that are associated with those holidays," Goodman wrote.

Reached at the couple's Edmonton home, Derek Baars said they are"very thankful" for the judge's decision.

"Many Christians have been praying for us and so behind theactions of the judge, for which we're very thankful, we see the handof God to direct him in the judgment," Baars said, adding they hopethe decision will be helpful for other Christians hoping to fosteror adopt children.

Trying to adopt a child

Baars said they are trying to adopt a child and hope the rulingwill aid in that process.

In light of the Baars' desire to be adoptive or foster parents,Goodman ordered the Hamilton CAS to "fully apprise" any agencyinquiring about the couple's suitability of the ruling.

The CAS did not immediately respond to a request for comment onthe decision.

When the court action was launched, the Hamilton CAS had said itexpected staff and foster parents to put their "personal beliefsand values aside" when caring for children who are coming from"different settings."

Closing a foster home is not something the CAS does lightly, itsaid, noting that it spends approximately six months training andvetting foster parents and was grateful for all who offer to take onfostering.