Have you ever had the threat of your kids being taken away?

[PrincessKLS]

Because of your religious preferences? I've read stories about pagan parents having their kids taken away from them just for who they were.

[aranarose]

My mother called CPS on me complaining that I was teaching my son witchcraft. The CPS worker who showed up was a druid. He laughed. They have to investigate every complaint, regardless of how idiotic they are. We're good friends now.

[WolfPup522]

Thankfully, no. I've been concerned in the past that my ex-husband or a family member wouldn't approve of my choices and would do something like that, but no one ever did. Now my daughter is old enough for a judge to talk to, so I don't worry anymore... whew!

[Autumn]

Most CPS jurisdictions are sophisticated enough that when I hear the stories of people who've lost the kids from being pagan I wonder what ELSE is going on in the home.

[Lightning Strike]

Answering in response to the title.
No, but I have had to leave my kid behind. That's rough.

[Ravenna Angellin]

My boys' paternal grandfather threatens it every once in a while when I don't cow to what he thinks I should be doing (which would be terrifying my children into obedience and tearing down their trust in me).

"Do you like having custody of your children? I could call CPS, they'll take your kids from you. All I have to say is that you worship Satan!"

It takes a great deal of strength to keep from laughing in his face.

"Please, go ahead and try it. First of all, you'd have a hard time proving me an unfit mother, whereas all we have to do is point out your numerous and well documented cases of abuse against your own sons, old man. Besides, I don't believe in Satan and have excellent expert witnesses to back me up in court if it came down to it."

That's all it takes to get him to hush.

~ Ravenna

[RainInanna]

No. Those who may not be supportive don't know.

[Lunacie]

Yeah, that leads to the question of "Are you afraid to tell anyone that you're Pagan because they might try to have your children taken away?"

My daughter was 15 when I first started following Paganism/Wicca, so I wasn't too concerned about this. I've kept a lower profile than I would prefer since my daughter and her two children and I all live together now.

[PrincessKLS]

Oh is your daughter an adult though?

[Lunacie]

Oh is your daughter an adult though?

Is this in response to my post?

If so, my daughter is now 34, her daughters are nearly 10 and just turned 6. But since we all live together and I'm helping to raise my grandchildren, my religion could be taken into account just like a parent's religion if there was any question about the way my grandchildren were being raised.

[Lyrien]

Have you ever had the threat of your kids being taken away?

No, not for any reason.

[PrincessKLS]

Is this in response to my post?

If so, my daughter is now 34, her daughters are nearly 10 and just turned 6. But since we all live together and I'm helping to raise my grandchildren, my religion could be taken into account just like a parent's religion if there was any question about the way my grandchildren were being raised.


Yes thank you :)

[Chesna]

Seeing these types of questions really gets to me, because it just keeps these myths and false ideas out there. Fisrt of all..CPS exist solely to look into the health, safety and welfare of children. If a child is being physically or sexualy abused, if there most basic needs of food, medical and educational needs are being neglected, we look into it. There are LAWS!! FEDERAL LAWS!! that allow people to practice their religion. If a pagan/wiccan family had their children removed I will almost guarantee it is for some other reason. And it is not unusally in every case where kids are removed for the parent(s) to try and shift blame away from the real problem and say something like that. I mean, come on, think about it, how many parents are going to go around and say, My kids were taken because I beat them, or did not have food or did not take care of their medical needs. What the public does not know is that there is usually more going on than we know. I see it everyday in my job as a social worker for Child Protection.

Chesna

[RainInanna]

I'm glad to know that, Chesna, since we are adopting my nephew. I agree, I'm sure it's an excuse to shift attention away from the real reasons.

[LadyWinter]

Most CPS jurisdictions are sophisticated enough that when I hear the stories of people who've lost the kids from being People I wonder what ELSE is going on in the home.

Quoted for TROOF!

Seriously its illegal. Its called religious discrmination. The Religous Right isnt a fan of alot of religions not just P/a/g/a/n/i/s/m.

Winter