Court Is Out Of Order- Sect Children Should Not Have Been Removed

       In Texas, an appeals court overruled the state’s decision to remove the children of the sect, Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  The appeals court has found that the CPS department had not proven evidence of immediate danger of physical health or safety of children who had not reached puberty.  The court also said that their beliefs, in and of themselves, did not place children in danger of abuse.

          This is a victory for the 41 mothers who brought the suit against the state for removing their children.  Initially, the state had said that 31 of the mothers were under the age of 18.  It has since been determined that 15 of that 31 are OVER the age of 18.  What that means, for the other mothers, isn’t clear.

        Does this mean that the children will be returned back to their families?  No one seems to know for sure.  The ruling is being reviewed.  It is possible that the 450 children who were removed; could be removed from temporary foster care and returned to their families. 

          No one really seems to mention the fathers.  It is almost as if by accusing some of the fathers of sexually abusing young women…they all are guilty by association.  This is wrong.  Damage has been done to “whole” families…some of them may even be “INNOCENT”. 

          Part of the problem here is that in America, we are supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty.  That didn’t really happen here.  Truthfully, children need to be protected.  However, in “protecting” them…the system damaged others.  This whole case is disturbing.  Allegations that can be proven true, of abuse, are horrendous…and should be prosecuted.  Those who were under suspicion and are proven to be innocent have been done a great injustice.

          The mothers had been represented by the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid.  TRLA is a non-profit organization.  They help people, in southwestern Texas, with low income to receive legal services.  http://www.trla.org/   TRLA has been instrumental in helping these mothers to find a pathway to once again regain custody.  Update 5-23-08  Today it was announced that the state of Texas child welfare officials will appeal this landmark decision.  In a notification to the court the state says that a motion will be filed later today!   Keep watching to see what happens….as the outcome will surely define the limits or lack of limits on the department of child welfare that the courts will enforce.  This affects us all!!! 

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Mad About Madeline

        While the rest of us have not been keeping track of the days…Madeline’s parents have.  It seems the whole world was mad about Madeline and was doing their best to find her.   Madeline McCann disappeared about a year ago in Portugal.  Madeline was three years old at that time; her family was on vacation. To this day, Madeline is still missing.  There are more questions than answers about what happened to her and if she will ever be found.  Keeping her story in the media is helping people to remember that a little girl is out there somewhere waiting to be found.

           Madeline’s parents were made the targets of suspicion by the authorities and the media,  when it was made known to the public that they left 3 year old Madeline and her brother Sean alone in their hotel room while they went to dinner.  It was a terrible decision and many are fearful of what has happened to Maddy.  The parents were villified for making such a horrible error in judgement.  Madeline disappeared and no one knows what has happened to the beautiful little girl.  The parents have vigorously denied that they had anything to do with her disappearance.  I am sure they have relieved that day and night over and over wishing that they could change what happened. 

           This friday, there will be an interview on 20/20 on ABC with Madeline’s parents at 10 pm.  I will be watching.  I can’t imagine the heartache they are going through.  Some judge the parents harshly…i would suspect not as harshly as they judge themselves each day as they long for Madeline’s return.  It is the hope of many that Madeline will be found soon.

          It seemed for a time that everyone was Mad About Madeline…there were supposed sightings everywhere.  If only someone were to actually find her; what joy that would bring.  In the meantime, Madeline’s parents have been trying to fight for a system to be established in Europe for an Amber Alert.  This would greatly improve the chances of someone trying to find a lost child in an area of the world where people cross boarders from one country into another and disappear quite easily.

     

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