Betrayal of the Child

Introduction

Notes to the First Edition

There is no doubt that unprecedented levels of family dissolution is leading to large-scale father-absence, while loss of father is clearly imposing serious deprivation and dysfunction on tens of millions of children. This represents a human tragedy for children, fathers and all society. It is even a disaster for mothers.

As there are multi-millions of fathers facing impending, current and ongoing custodial conflicts threatening a continued relationship to their children, I’ve incorporated a guide to the family courts to assist in the conduct of cases.

This guide must be used within the context of; the development of family law, child psychology, political trends and even social pressures. Unfortunately, the complex subject matter and material are predictable artifacts of the conflictual divorce-custody conundrum. Therefore, fathers are thrown onto a steep learning curve. This is true for the pro se and represented father alike. Having said that, my experience working with fathers has taught me that highly motivated dads usually prove up to the task of absorbing and using such material.

Without understanding the past and its connection to the present, fathers are doomed to repeat recent massive failures in convincing courts to maintain the integrity of post divorce adult-child relationships. Therefore, the general advice in the guide is linked to historic as well as to modern psychiatric & psychological evidence. That evidence should be referenced to the statistics and source material provided in various chapters. See The Consequences of Parental Deprivations on the Child, The Psychiatric & Psychological Literature on the Child, Re-Location Cases, Parental Child Abduction.

Chapter sub-headings are provided as pointers to specific problems such as parental abduction, relocation, abuse allegations and imputation of income. See Parental Abductions, See Modern Law

Suitable material for legal briefs and argument is included that would take hundreds of hours to accumulate it if it could be found. That material is incorporated in textbook format (source-date-quote) so it can be used for citation or reference in court.

Lets get one thing straight. There are no quick fixes, or simple ABC ‘how-to’ formulas that can reverse entrenched court policies that are robbing children of their fathers. Fathers, acting as advocates for their kids, are not facing a ‘level’ playing field. I can only provide an intelligent, evidential, and rational approach for the beleaguered, threatened parent and child. The included material, if used properly, might just improve their chances in the hostile environment of family law courts.

Bold type, italics, parentheses and underlined words are either my contributions or case citations, not attributable to other sources. Cases and psychiatric reports reproduced are real with only the names, or parts of them, removed to protect the privacy of the individuals. Named cases are those that have been already published in the legal literature. Several cases and psychiatric reports are analyzed for the benefit of the reader.

It is sadly evident that, in the industrialized world, there is a universal sole maternal approach to custody that holds true for nearly all jurisdictions. Therefore, while anecdotal, cases included reflect general family court practice and illustrate the enormous obstacles facing children and fathers in custodial conflicts.

Limitations not withstanding, I believe that the legal, statistical and expert material included is far more comprehensive than ever before attempted in a similar work. To my knowledge, there is no other book available that advocates social and legal reform, while providing fathers with material and a strategic basis to conduct custody cases in the quest to prevent paternal loss.

While the book offers assistance to fathers charged with the responsibility for protecting their children’s rights in the present legal climate, it is, to a lesser extent, addressed to women. If mothers are open to the issues, arguments and proofs, they might better understand the impact on children of actions that separate those children from their fathers. Once understood, perhaps, they will reject the kind of radical and cultural feminist ideas that reinforce fatherlessness and take us towards a matriarchal society. See Betrayal of the Child

It is also hoped that professionals involved in children’s issues will not find the arguments for shared parenting, backed by the statistics and studies, lacking in reason. Perhaps they will open their eyes to the damage done to this and future generations of children by following the principles of sole maternal custody in protection of special interests.

Finally, I write in the rather timid expectation that I will not be deliberately misinterpreted or glibly described as anti-female or anti-feminist.

If mothers were to find themselves and children in same position facing modern fathers and children, I would, instead, be taking up their cause. In fact, for mothers living in the very few anomalous jurisdictions where they might face unfair treatment, the same principles hold true as for fathers. The Guide should be equally useful to them. As for the feminists, when their ideals accord with principles of universal suffrage, human rights, equality and true liberation, I am a staunch supporter of their aims.

However, this book is extremely critical of the extremist cultural or radical feminists. Their private political agendas and anti-male attitudes have helped to create circumstances threatening the very core and concord of male-female relationships. Ultimately, they are a real and present danger to the human rights of children.