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Turning children against a parent constitutes child abuse
To the Editor:

? After reading the letters that have appeared over the last several
weeks regarding fathers, child custody and court hearings, I would like
to add another subject to ponder: Parental alienation. The anger and
bitterness that most feel during the breakdown of a marriage is most
likely the root of these battles. After all, outside of abusive
situations, why wouldn't mothers want their children to still be
involved and influenced by the father that was acceptable to parent up
to the point of separation and divorce? This launches the final strike
to control a situation and get even.
For those that don't know, "parental alienation occurs anytime a parent,
friend or relative speaks badly about the other parent so that the child
can hear what is being said. In severe cases children are manipulated
and brainwashed (programmed) into such cases of confusion that their
perception of events and people around them are severely distorted.
Parental alienation in its most severe form is a heinous form of child
abuse and neglect. It is a dangerous manipulation of children's minds to
alter their perception of reality about another parent.
The purpose of marginalizing this parent is that he or she has no means
to be an effective parent, or to cut that parent out of a child's life
entirely. Naturally, the brainwashed children often support the side of
the offending parent. Programmed children lose their own sense of reason
and their ability to express their own choice in the matter. If the
alienator is not contained, these manipulations of the child's mind
become the incubator of their own future psychological problems.
Unfortunately, in many cases, fully capable parents and their extended
families are eliminated. Once the cutting out of a parent has occurred,
the child is left under the full care of the most disturbed and
dysfunctional parent. These tragedies are played out in our family
courts every day. Normal methods of handling parental conflict such as
mediation and therapy do not work in these cases. The alienated parent
is forced to appeal to a judge to make a decision that will enable them
to continue to see their children (from www.stopparentalali enation.org) .
April 25 commemorated International Parental Alienation Awareness Day.
With awareness comes education, and with education, comes the power to
stop the mental and emotional abuse of young, manipulated children. To
quote Dr. Martin Luther King, "Do anything, no matter how small, to make
a difference." We need to do something to stop this plague that infects
our children.
Where does all this end? Surely our elected judges and lawyers don't
feel that all this talk about father's rights will just fade away in a
few weeks. I know the fathers, local supporters, Maryland legislators
and a number of local attorneys (who support us privately) will continue
this fight until the laws are changed and the children are where they
should be - with both parents. So to the parents out there who think
they had the last laugh as they walked away from the courtroom, you are
on borrowed time. Your rule as parental dictator will end sooner than
you think.
Wade Garret
Cumberland

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It is our desire here at Wesley Chapel Church of the Nazarene to help you if you are experiencing this struggle to see your children, or are the target Parental Alienation Syndrome. WE are here to help.