Mommy Life: Parental rights amendment - sign the petition now!

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« Mike Farris HSLDA, Parental Rights Amendment | Main | Dr. Laura's new SAHM book - 2 to give away »

April 30, 2009 5:17 PM

Parental rights amendment - sign the petition now!

Why We Need the Parental Rights Amendment

by Michael P. Farris, J.D.
March 3, 2009

Eighty years ago the Supreme Court declared that "the child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations." Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925).
Thirty years ago the Court continued this line of reasoning with the pronouncement that the "primary role of the parents in the upbringing of their children is now established beyond debate as an enduring American tradition." Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972).

Yet in 2000, when the State of Washington gave any person the ability to override a good parent's decision about visitation by simply claiming that it would be "best" for children to allow the third-party to have visitation rights, in the Supreme Court:

·        There were six separate opinions and none reached a five-vote majority
·        Justice Thomas was the only Justice to clearly state that parental rights receive the same high legal standard of protection as other fundamental rights
·        Justice Scalia held that parents have no constitutionally protected rights whatsoever

Read Farris's entire article here, browse the site and - both parents, please - sign the petition.