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Is There a War Against Fathers in America?
Albert Mohler
President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
April 4, 2008
Albert Mohler recently interviewed Stephen Baskerville. Dr. Baskerville is a professor at Patrick Henry College and author of the book, “Taken Into Custody: The War Against Fatherhood, Marriage and the Family.”
Mohler: I find fascinating the fact that you have a rather aggressive title here: you’re talking about a war against fathers, marriage and the family. There are a lot of people who, I think, are unaware of this war. Help us understand it.
Baskerville: Most people are unaware of it until they are sucked into it—usually through the family court system, divorce or some other method. Americans would be very shocked if they knew what was going on in this country under the name of divorce—“no fault divorce.”
What we call divorce has become essentially a euphemism for government officials, courts primarily, and social service agencies to invade families—to separate children from parents who have done nothing wrong; to plunder the parents for everything they have in many cases and even to criminalize the parents and jail them without trail; to turn them into criminals in ways the parents are powerless to avoid.
The overwhelming victims of this are fathers, though at times it happens to mothers as well. Usually it is not a matter of gender bias, it is a matter of power and money—of the huge machine that has grown up in the last four decades around the question of “no fault divorce,” child custody and related issues.
Mohler: Now in your work you really demonstrate how the “no fault divorce revolution” and the law has brought enormous consequences. Can you help spell those out for us? I think an awful lot of Americans, especially those who are younger, aren’t aware of how the law really has been transformed in this area.
Baskerville: That’s right. The term “no fault” understates the problem. It really is unilateral divorce—involuntary divorce. It allows one spouse to force divorce on the other without the involuntary spouse having done anything wrong. In other words, your spouse can divorce you without you having done anything legally wrong or agreeing to the divorce. In fact, it goes further than that. Maggie Gallagher … describes it as the abolition of marriage, and that is really what it is. The marriage contract is not in any way legally binding anymore. It can be broken without consequence by one spouse unilaterally—the other spouse has no choice. Divorce is simply forced on that spouse. And most often it’s the father.
Mohler: Let’s just revisit the situation before “no fault divorce.” At that time society privileged marriage as a contract above other contracts because it was understood to be more than a contract. Marriage was understood to be the basic building block of civilization. And to dissolve a marriage was understood to be an issue of such consequence that there had to be cause. I think that’s what people don’t understand. When it says “no fault” it really means “no cause.” You don’t have to have a cause now. One spouse can simply decide that he or she—and in a lot of cases it’s both—doesn’t want to be married anymore and there is nothing the other spouse can do to prevent the divorce. Isn’t that the ultimate issue here?
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kkinney
5/6/2008 12:47 PM
I guess that I am blessed by living in Texas. I do not see the situations that you refer to in my area. I most often see men who do not know how to be husbands or fathers and when they are faced with divorce choose to leave their children. Although, the courts have given them visitation they choose not to exercise that right and do not see the child(ren). I have never seen a case where the custodial parent had the option of denying visitation for whatever reason. In fact you are held in contempt of court if you withold visitation for any reason (i.e. child support arrears, etc.).
lptaxinc
5/2/2008 4:23 PM
my heartfelt and sincerest apologies to the honorable God fearing fathers who read these posts. My comment was in actuality a praise for the fathers who are responsible, loving providers who long for relationship with their children.
As I stated below - it is because of those men who do not live up to their responsibilities, who turn their backs on their children and wives (mother of their children) that the courts of this world are unfairly penalizing you.
Because of the word limit, I was not able to fully expound on this. I should have posted a continuance,especially knowing that the men I have dealt with (in my business) are not ones who would frequent this site, nor read these articles. My apologies again.
My prayers go out for you fathers who are walking in our Heavenly Fathers truths and are being persecuted by the very authorities who should be helping you.
As I stated below - it is because of those men who do not live up to their responsibilities, who turn their backs on their children and wives (mother of their children) that the courts of this world are unfairly penalizing you.
Because of the word limit, I was not able to fully expound on this. I should have posted a continuance,especially knowing that the men I have dealt with (in my business) are not ones who would frequent this site, nor read these articles. My apologies again.
My prayers go out for you fathers who are walking in our Heavenly Fathers truths and are being persecuted by the very authorities who should be helping you.
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Without due process, but as a matter of routine, after a fifteen minute discussion before a family judge, I was awarded four days every month to parent our son; ordered to pay $2,600 monthly in support; $200,000 of my savings frozen; and, an order of protection entered against me for my wife.
After three years, one hundred court calls, $150,000 in legal fees, and three jobs, I lost a successful career; involved in a dozen incidents calling for police; imprisoned; filed for personal bankruptcy; car repossessed; and evicted from my apartment, but won joint custody to which 17% of fathers win. In February 2005, however, my wife in retaliation had my visitation suspended, and the County Circuit Clerk refused to accept $19,000 in proof of payments as credit for court ordered support paid.
I regret saying I do.