Comments on: Religion and Custody Battles http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/02/religion-and-custody-battles.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:29:08 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: elena http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/02/religion-and-custody-battles.html/comment-page-1#comment-1454 elena Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:23:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/02/religion-and-custody-battles.html#comment-1454 This raises a question. In the first paragraph, you say, "at one time custody arrangements were often fairly simple, with the mother of the child usually gaining custodial duties." <br/><br/>In fact, mothers have only gained custody more often in uncontested cases - and it used to be that most were not contested, with most fathers not asking for custody. For the last 35 or 40 years, mothers have LOST custody something like 80% to 90% of the time in CONTESTED custody cases. It has not been uncommon for the father to contest and gain custody - judged more "fit" due to having greater financial assets - then tell the mom she can have the kids back in exchange for no child support. <br/><br/>So I wonder if there is a hidden gender factor in this story. How often is religion used to judge a mom unfit versus judging a dad unfit? This raises a question. In the first paragraph, you say, “at one time custody arrangements were often fairly simple, with the mother of the child usually gaining custodial duties.”

In fact, mothers have only gained custody more often in uncontested cases – and it used to be that most were not contested, with most fathers not asking for custody. For the last 35 or 40 years, mothers have LOST custody something like 80% to 90% of the time in CONTESTED custody cases. It has not been uncommon for the father to contest and gain custody – judged more “fit” due to having greater financial assets – then tell the mom she can have the kids back in exchange for no child support.

So I wonder if there is a hidden gender factor in this story. How often is religion used to judge a mom unfit versus judging a dad unfit?

]]> By: pitch313 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/02/religion-and-custody-battles.html/comment-page-1#comment-1453 pitch313 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:15:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/02/religion-and-custody-battles.html#comment-1453 Of the options mentioned in your post, I'm more in favor of allowing the child to choose a religious affiliation, or no religious affiliation whatsoever, over parents contesting each other's religions, or over efforts at mediation. <br/><br/>Mediation seems preferable to me over contests in court. Of the options mentioned in your post, I’m more in favor of allowing the child to choose a religious affiliation, or no religious affiliation whatsoever, over parents contesting each other’s religions, or over efforts at mediation.

Mediation seems preferable to me over contests in court.

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