Posted on 04/10/2009 7:37:49 AM PDT by Antioch
QUEBEC, April 9, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A Gatineau father lost an appeal Monday after a lower court ruled last June that he had issued a too severe punishment against his 12-year-old daughter.
The case involves a divorced man who says that in 2008 he caught the girl, over whom he had custody, surfing websites he had forbidden and posting "inappropriate pictures of herself" online. The girl's father told her as a consequence that she would not be allowed to go on her class' graduation trip to Quebec City, even though her mother had already given permission for her to do so.
The girl then contacted a legal-aid lawyer who was involved in the parents' custody battle, who convinced the court to order that the girl be allowed to go on the trip with her class. The father appealed the decision on principle, although his daughter went on the trip in the meantime.
The appeals court reportedly warned in its ruling that the case should not be seen as an open invitation for children to take legal action against their parents when grounded.
The girl now lives with her mother.
Prosecuting attorney Lucie Fortin said that seeking a court order to overturn the father's discipline was a "last resort." "The question was that there was a problem between the father and the mother, and the child asked the court to intervene because it was important to her," she said.
The defense attorney told media the father was "flabbergasted."
"We went from a child who wanted to live with her father, and after all this has been done, they're not speaking anymore," said defense attorney Kim Beaudoin. "Either way, he doesn't have authority over this child anymore.
"She sued him because she doesn't respect his rules. It's very hard to raise a child who is the boss."
Beaudoin said her client may take the case to Canada's Supreme Court.
"I wasn't proud to be a Quebecer when I read the ruling. I can't believe we let a child do this," she told Canwest.
Last June Dr. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention, called the initial court decision against the father "another chilling precedent," saying that it was so outrageous that it sounded like a parody.
"This judge needs to be grounded and sent to her room," Mohler said. He pointed out that the rules the girl broke, and which the court has helped her to flout, were put in place for her own protection. Police have identified online dating sites as a common window through which sexual predators gain access to children.
"For years, we have been warned that the courts were poised to usurp parental authority. We have seen chilling judicial precedents and the encroaching reach of bureaucrats and government agents ... Parents are supplanted by professionals who are 'experts' in raising other people's children."
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Quebec Judge Overrules Father's Decision to Ground His Sixth-Grade Daughter http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08062009.html
Quebec Judge Overrules Father's Decision to Ground His Sixth-Grade Daughter
Sixth grade graduates?
Would not be surprised if mom was the driving force behind the lawsuit. Even if she wasn’t, she obviously supported the legal battle. Either way, she should be ashamed for condoning her daughter’s bad behavior and undermining her ex’s parental authority. But hey, all’s fair when you can screw over the ex, huh?
The case involves a divorced man who says that in 2008 he caught the girl, over whom he had custody, surfing websites he had forbidden and posting "inappropriate pictures of herself" online.
Still wrong IMO.
It’s great until she takes slams her mother and does the same to her, its coming just you wait hehe
This is more a matter of two women ganging up on an evil white male than anything else.
“Would not be surprised if mom was the driving force behind the lawsuit.”
I suspect the same. However, such a mother is sowing the seeds of her own punishment as this girl enters the teen years with the knowledge that she is in charge.
After “retiring” (can’t afford to, we don’t have a McMansion and operate in the black) I stand lots of County court cases including Juvenile court as bailiff. You would be amazed at the out-of-control yutes, always in a rage, self-centered, spoiled, “rulers of the roost” attitudes I witness. This is in basically rural Texas too.
Here’s a clue: The state CANNOT raise kids! I know this is a shock but it’s true. What with “self-esteem” firmly established, they don’t know anything, are very violent but really proud of themselves.
The number of these little barbarians is growing by leaps and bounds, we’re right on the verge of total lawlessness but FReepers know this.
Turn her over to the state. The state want’s to control her upbringing. And she want’s to enlist the state to accomplish that. She belongs in a foster home or an orphanage or on the street. She will be happy there where there are no rules or parents to make your life miserable.
I wonder if her folks could emancipate her against her will. Twelve is probably below the cutoff. Of course, you let her know she’s free to come back when she agrees to abide by the rules, in writing, and waives any legal actions based on the rules.
Mommy is going to rue the day she supported this. Wait until juniorette meets up with some freak who saw her inappropriate photos on the internet.
And when this kid ends up dead after an encounter with an online predator, who will sue the judge?
Organize them. Give them obama-corps uniforms and pay them a nominal sum to tell their parents what to do. They'll make fine little commissars, you betcha.
When I was having troubles with my oldest boy. We found ourselves in the court system. What you describe is most accurate. Many of these kids are so filled with “self-esteem” from the school systems that they think they know much more than their “Stupid, over-bearing parents”. It isn’t true but that’s what they think.
Frankly it wasn’t until he was on his death bed that he admitted that I was right all along and that he should have listened to me and followed my advice.
Oh yes, his death was a direct result of his behaviors that I had been warning and trying to guide him through.
If I were dad I would flat out refuse any child support payments, let her beloved courts and government be her parents from here on out.
Good lord. You just made my day better. A story like yours makes me stop and realize how petty my big worries of the day actually are. Thanks for being brave and unselfish enough to share that.
Is the dad also required to take her back?
If she chooses to leave why provide a place for her to sleep.
“If I were dad I would flat out refuse any child support payments, let her beloved courts and government be her parents from here on out.”
Not sure I would go that far—that is, the “from here on out part.” This could be a great learning experience for the girl. Let the state have her now. But let her know you love her and that she is welcome home when she figures out that there are rules and she needs to comply.
Apparently, though, the girl has a mom that is facilitating the dysfunction. So the situation may be irremediable. At this point, about all Dad can do is tell the girl he loves her but that she is not welcome in his house or in his life until she submits to his authority. That would be heartbreaking. But it may be the best thing for the girl to see someone standing for principle and sticking to it.
At the bottom, this is probably an issue of Mom trying to suck more money out of Dad. Too bad the girl is caught up in it.
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