January 12, 2021 (Ruth Institute) — A few years ago, The Ruth Institute analyzed the case of Lisa Miller, who fled the country with her biological daughter, to protect the daughter from the alleged abuse of Lisa’s former partner. Lisa, a former lesbian, was damaged and harmed by the Sexual State. Lisa's former partner used the power of the family courts to force Lisa to share custody with her, by redefining the “presumption of paternity” to the gender-neutral “presumption of parentage.” Now Lisa Miller is back in the news — hoping to receive a presidential pardon.
The case is strange and disconcerting for anyone who is familiar with it. Lisa Miller (interviewed for her story in 2008 by LifeSiteNews) — had a difficult life: by the time she was seven she was paying the mortgage, making sure food was on the table, and dealing with her parents’ divorce. Due to that and her mother’s mental illness, she got addicted to speed, and when she was married, her husband introduced her to alcohol. After a failed suicide attempt while recovering from alcoholism in the hospital, she was transferred to a psych ward.
While in the psych ward her therapists decided, without consulting her husband, that the reason she had so many struggles was because she was a lesbian. Clearly, they told her, the struggles she was facing came from difficulties “coming out.” Later, after divorcing her husband, she followed their advice.
The therapists encouraged her to be a lesbian (rather than working out her relationship with her husband), and told her that even if her first relationship with a woman didn’t work out (it didn’t), that doesn’t mean that the second one wouldn’t (it didn’t either).
The incredible thing was that she had all of this childhood trauma (what 7 year-old should be balancing checkbooks and taking speed?) that the therapists hardly delved into and didn’t really discuss with her. Talking a patient into a sexual identity based on the therapists’ hunch, and disconnected from the facts of the patient’s case, seems like it might be malpractice.
This also brings up another question about the immutability of sexual preference. After both of her failed relationships with different women, and the abusive, though longer-term relationship with Janet Jenkins, she decided that actively living a lesbian lifestyle wasn’t for her (not to mention her doubts about her sexual preference during that span of time). Can sexual preference be immutable if people’s sexual preference changes? If sexual preference is immutable for some people but not others, how is the law to deal with a category like that?
Lisa’s life became more difficult as she moved in with, and later became joined in a civil union with, Janet Jenkins. Lisa said, “Janet and I did not have a typical relationship. We were together — however, there was rarely any intimacy. Maybe once or twice a year and this was consistent throughout the relationship. I personally did not feel that way. This upset Janet a great deal and a lot of the abuse centered around that, as well, with name-calling and things like that… I actually, ended up leaving her in 1999 because the relationship had turned violent.”
While many of us may be confused as to why Lisa might stay in a relationship that became more and more abusive, Lisa explained it in terms of a comfort zone. “For me, being with her, and this is going to sound weird, but it was like a comfort zone because I was used to being abused growing up… with women, what I was trying to do was trying to recreate a mother/daughter bond that I never had.”
Pictured above c.2009: Lisa Miller with her daughter Isabella
More than 10 years ago, in 2009, Lisa Miller took her daughter Isabella and traveled to Nicaragua because of her deep concern that her daughter was being "traumatized" by court-ordered visits with her former lesbian partner.
Two court-appointed advocates – one clinical therapist and one social worker – testified to the apparent trauma experienced by Isabella in sworn testimony. And, Miller, herself, also testified to the apparent trauma experienced by her daughter.
Other affidavits filed with the courts at that time alleged that abuse was taking place.
And so, in 2009, Miller decided to take action and remove Isabella from a deteriorating situation, traveling to Central America.
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition which asks President Trump to show clemency to all involved with the Lisa Miller case by granting them a presidential pardon.
Since 2009, three other people – including two Mennonite pastors and a businessman – who helped Lisa and Isabella travel to Nicaragua were convicted of “international kidnapping” for helping Lisa and her daughter, despite the fact that Lisa had custody of her daughter when they went to Central America.
These Mennonite pastors and businessman have already served their time in federal prisons, but their unjust convictions are a stain on their records.
And now, even though Isabella is considered a legal adult, Lisa Miller is still forced to “hide out” abroad, away from her home country.
The time has come to call an end to the Millers’ exile.
Please SIGN this petition, urging President Trump to issue all involved with Lisa a presidential pardon, and give the Millers a chance to freely return to the United States.
President Trump has been an unwavering ally to the Christian community, and he and his administration have done more for the pro-life cause and religious freedom than all other administrations combined.
By pardoning Lisa and the men who helped her and her daughter, President Trump could once again show his solidarity with the Christians who support and love him and continue to stand with him.
At the time that these events transpired, Miller thought she was doing the right thing to protect her daughter and she has already “served time” in exile.
Therefore, a presidential pardon could never be taken to mean that an actual kidnapping won't be pursued by federal authorities in the future.
But, given the special set of circumstances in this particular case, we urge President Trump to issue the pardon because the time the Millers have spent abroad – away from family, friends, and colleagues – could be considered “time served.”
And, by pardoning Lisa, President Trump could also give Isabella a new lease on life. By pardoning Kenneth Miller and Timothy Miller (who are unrelated to Lisa and Isabella) and Christian businessman Philip Zodhiates, President Trump could clear their records and give them a new lease on life, too.
Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this urgent petition.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
'New LifeSite petition asks Trump to pardon Christian mom who protected her daughter'
- https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/new-lifesite-petition-askstrump-to-pardon-christian-mom-who-protected-her-daughter
'Exclusive Interview with Lisa Miller, Ex-Lesbian Fighting for Custody of Own Child against “Civil Union” Partner' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/exclusive-interview-with-lisa-miller-ex-lesbian-fighting-for-custody-of-own
'Experts testify to trauma experienced by Isabella Miller in sworn testimony now published online' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/experts-testify-to-trauma-experienced-by-isabella-miller-in-sworn-testimony
'Pastor spent 2 years in jail for helping girl escape court-imposed lesbian ‘mom’' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pastor-spent-2-years-in-jail-for-helping-girl-escape-court-imposed-lesbian
After Lisa and Janet got back together, they moved to Vermont and obtained a civil union in 2000. In 2001 Lisa decided to have a daughter via artificial sperm donation. Janet generally maintained that she wasn’t interested in the child, and was not helpful during the pregnancy. The birth certificate lists only Lisa Miller as the parent.
According to Lisa, even though Jenkins was granted some parental rights after the dissolution proceedings began (though they lasted more than 5 years). Jenkins’ involvement with the child was minimal, even skipping the court ordered dates for visitation.
As far as the sordid allegations of the proceedings go, what Lisa Miller alleges Jenkins did isn’t pretty. She recounts that her daughter said that Jenkins would bathe naked with her (as a 5-year-old girl!), and that her daughter would come back from the few visits she did have and mime committing suicide. After that, Lisa cut off visits, and eventually fled the country to protect her daughter from an allegedly abusive and erratic ex-partner.
Dr. Morse said of this heartbreaking case, “Lisa Miller was one of the early victims of the Sexual State. Her case convinced me that redefining marriage would redefine parenthood in ways that few people were taking seriously. Lisa Miller entered into a civil union with another woman and had a child through an anonymous sperm donor. Lisa no doubt believed that she was the mother of the child. The government redefined parenthood, right out from under her. She had no idea that by entering into a civil union, she had given parental rights to the other woman, something that does not happen in stepparent situations.
“When those visits became abusive, Lisa tried to prevent them. The bias of the court in favor of the non-parent was so strong and the power of the family court so arbitrary, that Lisa could not protect her child. She fled the country with her daughter. She had the assistance of two brave Mennonite pastors and a Christian businessman.
“I support a presidential pardon for Lisa Miller, and for Philip Zodhiates, Timothy Miller and Kevin Miller.”
Support Lisa Miller by signing the petition at LifeSiteNews today!
Published with permission from the Ruth Institute.