[i][b]Jesus dolls rejected from Toys for Tots program[/b][/i]
[b]Bible-quoting toymaker surprised its offer of 4,000 dolls was turned down[/b]

LOS ANGELES - A company that sells Bible-quoting Jesus dolls said it was surprised and disappointed that the Marine Reserves’ Toys for Tots program turned down its offer to donate 4,000 of the talking dolls.

“I believe as a churchgoing person, anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the Bible,” said Michael La Roe, director of business development for Valencia-based Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. and its one2believe division, which makes the line of Bible character dolls.

Bill Grein, vice president of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in Quantico, Va., said the offer was turned down because Toys for Tots doesn’t know anything about the religious affiliations of the children who receive its gifts.

“We can’t take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family,” Grein said Tuesday. “Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun.”

According to one2believe’s Web site, the button-activated, bearded Jesus doll recites Scripture such as “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Toys for Tots distributed 18 million stuffed animals, games, toy trucks and other gifts to children based on financial need in 2005.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15717485/

I find it absolutely [i]hilarious[/i] that the vice president of toys for tots said,"Kids want a gift for the holiday season that is fun."; I, personally, have, in the past, recieved gifts from toys for tots and I would not be able to imagine how incredibly angry and disappointed both me and my family would have been if we would have recieved jesus dolls. I'm glad that the Marine Toys for Tots had rejected them, and find it absolutely appalling that the one2believe company would have even considered donating them in the first place. I understand that it's fantastic to be charitable, but considering the state of the world did they really think that a ruckus wouldn't be raised from this? They should, if they still want to give, donate money to the Toys for Tots, or even go out and purchase [i]different[/i] toys.