Ark. Supreme Court Ruling Undermines Marriage, Child Welfare

Family, Marriage,

The Arkansas Supreme Court issued a ruling yesterday overturning a lower court’s child custody order that prohibited an Arkansas man from having overnight visitation at home with his son while the man’s live-in boyfriend was in the home.

Up until now, child custody rulings have typically favored married couples over cohabiting couples, because transient boarders in a home can pose an unknown risk to child welfare, and because research demonstrates time and time again that the most stable environment for a child is with a married mom and dad. This court ruling undermines what we know to be good policy for the children of Arkansas. In effect, it says whether a parent is married or not is irrelevant to the child. That’s utter nonsense.

Some people say these situations need to be examined on a case-by-case basis. The fact is when it comes to child custody as well as adoption and foster care, the State of Arkansas has a number of ‘blanket rules’ it uses. These rules are based on what the state believes will contribute the most to child welfare. If we know children fair better in one type of home as opposed to another, why would we put them in anything less than the best home possible?

The Arkansas Supreme Court has effectively said that marriage doesn’t matter, and the real victims are the innocent children caught in the middle of custody disputes.

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U.S. Soldiers Told American Family Association a “Domestic Hate Group”

Christian Persecution, Current Events, Family, ,

According to Fox News’ Todd Starnes, members of the U.S. military were told last week that the American Family Association is a “domestic hate group” because the group advocates traditional values and speaks out against homosexuality.

Starnes writes AFA was listed as a domestic hate group alongside the KKK, the Black Panthers, the Nation of Islam, and Neo-Nazis. Moreover, a photograph taken by a soldier with a camera phone shows the information slide on American Family Association contained a picture of Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, despite the fact Phelps has no known ties to AFA.

American Family Association has issued a response, saying,

“Let me be very clear. Your AFA does not condone the actions of Phelps and his followers, nor have we ever advocated hatred towards anyone, even those we don’t agree with.”

(more…)

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