Wednesday December 19, 2001
Children's Services Threatening to Take Aylmer Children from Parents Again
St. Thomas children's agency aggressively determined to make an example of Aylmer religious family
AYLMER, ON, December 19, 2001 (LSN.ca) - The case of an Ontario family whose seven children were forcibly apprehended by social workers since the parents refused to stop spanking their children using objects such as a switch, has erupted again. The numerous delays in the case has caused the family to protest that they can no longer abide by interim restrictions on their freedom to discipline their children in accordance with their faith and Canadian law. Following the parents' protest, the Family and Children's Services of St. Thomas and Elgin (agency) has initiated court proceedings which, if successful, will result in the children being taken from their parents once again.
The seven children were returned to the parents July 26, 22 days after their apprehension and after the parents agreed to "temporary" conditions which included the clause: "The parents shall not physically discipline their children, notwithstanding any direction to the contrary." The agreement was entered into on the understanding that the issue would be heard in court in September, and no later than November. However numerous delays by the agency caused the hearing to be postponed twice thus far. After a procedural hearing on September 6, a November 2 court date was postponed to December 14, only to be postponed again till January 17, 2002.
Given the excessive delays, the family decided that they could not abide by the temporary order's clause against physical discipline since "it constitutes an infringement on our right to preserve our religious freedom." The parents said they "mutually reached this conclusion based on the Word of God of our own free will and without coercion from the Church." The decision was backed by their church, the Church of God. Pastor Henry Hildebrandt of the Aylmer Church of God Congregation said in a release that the church "believes that the Word of God advocates corporal punishment under certain circumstances," and "can no longer encourage this family to comply with" the clause against spanking. "We believe they can no longer comply with this restriction without violating their convictions, regardless of the consequences."
Following the announcement by the family and the church, the agency held a press conference in which they announced that they were taking renewed action against the parents and the pastor. The agency has served a Notice of Motion mandating the parents and their pastor to appear in court December 20, to determine "Whether the parents' recent statements constitute a contempt of the Court Order made on July 26, and, if so, to impose appropriate sanctions" which would likely mean the removal of the children again from their home. The agency is insisting that the parents "confirm in writing to all parties of their unequivocal commitment to abide by the Interim Order" and demanding that their Pastor "be restrained either directly or indirectly through other persons from providing any counselling to the family members that would put them in breach of the Interim Order."
Steve Bailey, executive director of the agency, confirmed that the children were apprehended over concerns about "a pattern of corporal punishment in which the parents used objects to hit the children." While he admitted that the parents have cooperated fully with the order and investigation thus far, Bailey charged that the "parents refused to consider alternative forms of discipline" and that their pastor "seems to be counselling the parents to violate the court order." Moreover, during the press conference, Bailey pronounced the parents guilty of "abusive discipline" despite the fact that the courts have not yet ruled on the matter. Bailey said that in order to "permit the children to remain in their home" they must not be "subjected to further abusive discipline." Bailey said, "It is most unfortunate that the parents and the Church have chosen to deal with this matter publicly. However, having brought it to public attention, our agency has been forced to respond publicly."
Pastor Henry Hildebrandt responded to Bailey's statements noting that "neither the family nor the Church ever refused to consider alternative forms of discipline. Rather, the Church encourages alternative forms of discipline, and corporal punishment has never been the primary tool of discipline. When used, corporal punishment is applied under the mandate of Section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada." Rev. Hildebrandt also stressed, "Contrary to their statement, I have not counselled the family to violate the court order."
With regard to the restraining order sought against him, Pastor Hildebrandt said, "The CAS is effectively endeavouring to sever the bond of fellowship between the family and the Church. This is a tremendously serious issue as it violates the family's obvious wishes and legal right to associate closely with the Church and its members." He said the actions of the agency were threatening the parents' freedom of religion. "We are very concerned that the Children's Aid Society is attempting to portray a Biblical teaching as an illegal act while it is enshrined as a legal practice in our laws with appropriate restrictions," said Rev. Hildebrandt.
With regard to making the matter public, Pastor Hildebrandt said, "It is obvious that a matter of this magnitude deserves public attention. It has been a continuous appeal by the family to the Church that this matter be publicized. We strongly believe that if the public were not conscious of this case, the family's present circumstances would be substantially worse."
All the related press releases and transcripts are available at:
http://www.childrentaken.com
The following is a list of officials who may be lobbied on the case:
Brian Flint Family and Children Services
Andre Reymer Deputy-chief of Police in Aylmer
Robert Habkirk Mayor of Aylmer
Steve Peters Ontario MPP
Gar Knutson Federal MP
Latest Headlines
- BREAKING: US Congress Passes Health Care Reform Bill 220 - 215

- Stupak Amendment to Health Care Bill Passes 240 - 194 Saturday Evening

- Major Health Care Development - Pro-Life Stupak Amendment Vote OK'd for Today

- NY Times: Dems Banking on Later Squeezing Pro-Life Language Out of Bill in Committee

- USCCB Spokesman: "Definitely Not True" that Bishops Support Bill As it Stands

- TIME Got it Wrong - Prof. George Opposed Grandiose Kennedy Funeral

- USCCB Condemnation Tears Facade off "Phony" Abortion Compromise for Health Bill

- Health Care Bill Includes Monthly Abortion Premium: House Minority Leader Boehner

- TIME Article Setting Burke Against O'Malley Called "Tactical strike" on Behalf of Catholic Left

- Dirty Fighting on Abortion Funding: Word-Games and Health-Care Theatrics Boggle the Mind

- Commentary on November 6 News

- Note to LifeSiteNews Subscribers with Rogers email addresses

- New York Gov. Declares Nov. 10 Extraordinary Legislative Session for Same-Sex "Marriage"

- Washington's Pro-Family Amendment Effort Defeated - R-71 Almost Certain to Pass

- Vote Pushed Back on Canadian Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Bill to Dec. 2

- Elderly U.K. Couple in Good Health Commit Suicide, Complain of Assisted Suicide Law

- Texas Late-Term Abortionist and Baptist Minister Admits: "Am I killing? Yes, I am"

- New Evidence Contradicts CCHD's Findings on Accused Pro-Abortion Partner

- Quebec Priest Denies Possibility of Sexual Reorientation Therapy on TV

- New Hampshire Same-Sex "Marriage" Law in Crosshairs after Maine's Law Crumbles

- Brooklyn Bishop Criticized for Recorded Message Praising Pro-Abortion Politician

- First Group of "Traditionalist" Anglicans in Britain Votes to Enter Catholic Church

Most Read this Week
- Planned Parenthood Director Resigns after Watching Ultrasound of Abortion Procedure
- Nun Defiant Following Rebuke, but Stops Abortion Escorting
- Breaking: Dominican Community Apologizes for Nun Caught Acting as Abortion Escort
- TIME Article Setting Burke Against O'Malley Called "Tactical strike" on Behalf of Catholics Left
- Over 200 Christendom College Students Protest Abortion at Planned Parenthood Clinic
- Newly Identified Corporate Supporters of Planned Parenthood Named
- Scottish Gay Rights Activists Found Guilty of Pedophilia Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
- US Congress Passes Health Care Reform Bill 218 to 215
- Major Health Care Bill Development - Stupak Hyde Amendment Vote OK'd
- Health Care Bill Includes Monthly Abortion Premium: House Minority Leader Boehner
MORE NEWS:
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page
Last 10 Days
Archives
Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.








Back to Top