PUT A STOP TO CPS

When the Illinois Family Law Study Committee met in Chicago this morning they were greeted by dozens of parents with signs and banners.  (See accompanying photo slide show.) 

Mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and grandparents hoped to educate the committee on the suffering that current family law causes.  Participants in the Save Our Families Rally came from as far away as Indiana and Wisconsin.

The Illinois House of Representatives created the Family Law Study Committee of family law attorneys, lawmakers, judges and advocacy leaders to create the next chapter of Illinois Family Law. 

Change desperately needs to happen, and the focus must be on preserving family relationships, claim family rights advocates.  “Parents who want to maintain their participation and involvement in their children’s lives quickly find their time harshly limited by the courts,” said Ian Mitchell, father and board member at Illinois Fathers.

Ever since an illegal move-away from California to Illinois and documented false accusation by her mother, Donald Tenn has been prevented from parenting his daughter.  Tenn had been Madison’s stay-at-home parent and primary caregiver.  Local domestic violence organizations, a local attorney and even law enforcement aided Shannon Phillips in his Parental Alienation, says Tenn. 

“I’ve now been separated from my daughter longer than I was her stay-at-home Daddy,” said Tenn, “How can I help her grow into a responsible young women if I can’t spend time with her?”  More of Tenn’s story can be found in VAWA facilitates and funds illegal parental child abduction.

Parents rally in IL, Feb. 2010 – Image from I.Mitchell

JoAnn is a 72-year-old Wisconsin grandmother who attended today’s rally.  Her son had false accusations filed against him by his ex, which lead to time with his children being limited to 3 hours every two weeks. JoAnn said she and her husband were close with the children, but after a long time apart the girl cried the first time she saw them.

Illinois father Bill Sharp described how a family law judge revoked his equal custody and gave the alienating parent sole custody after she refused to cooperate with the court order.  He reported that the judge said, “The father should not be upset because this is how it ends up in 90 per cent of the cases.”  Both of Sharp’s children moved out of their mother’s and into Sharp’s house on their 18th birthdays.

Illinois Fathers submitted recommendations to the committee, including a minimum of 35% time share with each parent.  When asked if they think they had an impact, one father said, “The conversation in the room weighed heavily on our recommendations and they were taken seriously.” 

“We will no doubt have many more House and Senate committee meetings to attend.  The road to the next chapter in Family Law will be long and arduous,” said Mitchell, “But we are dedicated to being there.” 

“This nightmare has been going on for six years,” JoAnn said, “We want the kids to know that we never abandoned them.”  She added, “Judges don’t realize what they’re doing – destroying children.  They shouldn’t be doing this.”

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