As a former church goer of 20 years to Christian Fundamentalist churches here in the Province of Quebec I on countless occasions allowed child abuse to go on by neglecting the children who were put in danger by their "Christian parents" as defined on this program. These God fearing parents would get their kids up and stuff them in the car to go to Sunday morning church service on wintery Sunday mornings in blizzard like conditions with next to 0% visibility on ice covered roads. Today after being away from Church for several years I now see that this was/is child endangerment. I went to this same church I attended last a couple of months ago and afterwards talked with an elder who had not attended about this matter on the same sunny SUMMER afternoon. The reason he gave was that it was important not to forsake the gathering of the assembly. Yet he forsook the gathering of the assembly on this SUNNY SUMMER SUNDAY MORNING because there was another elder present.
This is an assembly that puts "family values" first and the Bible second. Family Values is defined as kidfriendly places to attend and kid friendly activities to engage in. The second part of this definition is annulled by such a trip to the Church building on a winter Sunday morning under such meteorological conditions in the family car so as to not be accussed of not partaking in the gathering of the assembly which is apparrently permitted on SUNNY SUMMER Sunday mornings! And on those wintery Sunday mornings when I saw such happenning despite the extreme danger in driving in such meteorological conditions defined above I neglected those kids by not reporting the parents to the youth protection agency who put their children's ("gifts from God" for those Christians reading this) lives in danger. The pastor did not care much. I brought it to his attention once but he was not concerned...maybe because the music worship would have to be abandonned on this occasion!
As for me I have always been single so no kids to consider. So when I went I was the only one at risk and I used public transportation.
I could take solace in the fact that Dr Phil has said that I don't have a say as to what other parents do with their kids. But this runs against the definition given on the show for Child abuse. And if Dr Phil is right than he has no right to host shows telling parents to not spank there children because HE has no say in what other parents do to raise their children.
In Quebec here, The youth protection agency has confirmed that it is legal to spank children in accordance to the law allowing for spanking.....but excessive force when in the act of spanking is illegal just as is driving to church in abovementionned weather conditions during the winter months could warrant an investigation of child abuse by endangering children's lives for no legitimate reason. I am now hurt by my own neglect of what was happenning to these kids. GOTTA go to church no matter what but don't spank the darlings.
PS: I would not feel totally secure in public schools today. When I was in school the strap existed and was administerred as needed by the principal. Today it is not there and kids come to school with knives and guns to settle accounts or for protection because the strap is not there. But that does not render ME not guilty of child abuse as defined on the program . Does it? I did nothing and said nothing against those parents driving with kids in dangerous winter weather conditions to church and putting their lives at risk.
(Original Air Date: 09/18/08) Could you be guilty of abusing your child and not know it? Where are the boundaries when it comes to parenting? Treffly is a mom of three who never thought she would be accused of breaking the law. But that's exactly what happened when she left her daughter in the car to do an errand just 30 feet away. Treffly's case sparked a flurry of opinions and heated debates across the country. People in the community and a criminal defense attorney weigh in. And find out what Dr. Phil thinks about Treffly's encounter with the law. Then, Lynn says her biggest regret is leaving her daughter alone the night the 13-year-old died. Find out how a false allegation landed her behind bars. Her conviction was overturned, and Lynn became the first woman in U.S. history to be cleared by DNA evidence. Hear how the truth came to light and what life has been like since she was released from prison. And, hear about Lynn's son, Ed's, experience growing up in foster care as a result of his mother's incarceration. What can mother and son do to rebuild their bond? Find out what you can do to improve the lives of children in the foster care system. Plus, don't miss the steps you need to take if you're wrongly accused of a crime. Join the discussion.
