We believe it’s the right of every child to be given the chance to experience that essential passage of life known as childhood. We hold these truths below to be absolute rights--basic and inalienable--as necessary to a child as air to breathe and water to drink.

1. We believe every child has the right to be put in touch with the God who loves him or her, free of the phony encumbrances of toxic religions who teach a fearsome, angry, vengeful God.

2. We believe every child has the right to a loving home and family.

3. We believe every child has the right to nutritious food, temperature appropriate clothing, shelter and good medical (physical and mental) care, including preventive health care.

4. We believe every child has the right to an education: to be given a chance to one day give back his or her best to society.

5. We believe every child has the right to absolute safety: to be free from terror of abuse and chains of neglect.

6.We believe every child has the right to be free from prejudice and inequality.

7. We believe that every child has the right to live without fear--unhindered by the threat of pervasive drugs, alcohol and violence.

8. We believe that every child has the right to chastity--to be free from sexual exploitation, and to be taught sexual responsibility.

9. We believe that every child has the right to respect.

10. We believe that every child has the right to be given the chance to one day make this world a better place.

11. We believe that every child has the right to be taught right from wrong.

12. We believe that every child has the right to good adult role models.

13. We believe that every child has the right to a certain level of stability in their lives, rather than the constant moves that accompany repeated eviction from their homes.

14. We believe that every child has the right to be taught that his or her actions have consequences and that they are responsible for their choices.

15. We believe that every child has the right to Hope.

16. We believe that every child has the right to a realistic dream and the fair chance to make the dream a reality.

(This Children’s Bill of Rights is based on a similar document composed by Sister Mary Rose of Covenant House.)