Monday March 10, 2003

JUDGE RULES AGENCY RIGHT TO SEIZE CHILDREN IN SPANKING CASE

AYLMER, Ontario, March 10, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A judge has ruled that children's aid workers were justified in apprehending seven children aged 6 to 14 from their home in a case that shocked parents in Canada. Two years ago the children were forcibly apprehended by police and social workers while the children screamed in horror begging to be left with their parents. The children were removed on the suspicion that the parents were using spanking as a form of discipline, which nonetheless remains legal under Canadian law.

Madam Justice Eleanor Schnall ruled last week that "The fact that the parents believe that they strike their children out of love, and that they are obliged to do so because of the teachings of the Bible, as interpreted by their Church, does not detract from the view that excessive force cannot be condoned, under any circumstances." Schnall said, "Application of force to a child that leaves a mark is unacceptable."

Schnall criticized the involvement of Church of God Pastor Henry Hildebrandt in the case saying that he orchestrated a fiasco. However, it is widely perceived that thanks to the public pressure the case received from the active mediation of the Church of God community, the children were returned home after three weeks. They remain so on the condition that the parents promised not to spank.

On May 25 the case goes to court to determine if the children require protection.

See related LifeSite coverage:
SEVEN CHILDREN TAKEN FROM CHRISTIAN HOME BECAUSE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2001/jul/01070601.html
CHILDREN'S SERVICES THREATENING TO TAKE AYLMER CHILDREN FROM PARENTS AGAIN
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2001/dec/011219a.html
AYLMER SOCIAL WORKERS VIOLATED CHARTER RIGHTS, LAWYER ARGUES
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/jul/02070502.html
LIFTED PUBLICATION BAN CONFIRMS AYLMER SOCIAL WORKERS WERE OUT OF LINE
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/jul/02070210.html

See the Toronto Star coverage:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035778582405&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/mar/03031001.html

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