Whats the controversy about fathers rights groups?
he article is a mixed bag. On the one hand, we have Paul Adams, who resigned as vice-chairman of ECMAS Edmonton shortly after his election in March of this year. Adams was convicted and disbarred in 1998 for approaching a 16-year-old prostitute for sex in an apparent sting operation targetting him. Obviously, this looks bad. Publicity about Adams led to the resignation from ECMAS of its Calgary executives. On the other hand, we have Ferrel Christensen, a retired academic and free speech advocate, and a long-struggling critic of the family courts. His reported sin is that he published a 1990 book containing “controversial” views on sex between minor children. Christensen seems to think that there may be serious negative effects from repressing the sexuality of minors who take an interest in sex. (I recall holding a similar opinion when I was 14 or so.) He also thinks that social reactions to precocious sexuality may be more harmful than the precocity itself. Based on the LaFramboise quo
Here’s an excerpt from an article by Gloria Woods, President of the Michigan chapter of National Organization of Women where she outlines her objection’s to father’s rights groups: “Father’s Rights” Groups: Beware Their Real Agenda “Shared Parental Responsibility.” In our work as women’s advocates, how often have we heard custodial moms wish that their children’s father would share the parental responsibility? Unfortunately, “shared parental responsibility” is the new doublespeak for joint physical custody by so-called “father’s rights” groups. For example, in Michigan proposed legislation supported by these groups would impose joint custody on parents who are in conflict over custody. Most studies report that joint custody works best when both parents want it and agree to work together. The Michigan legislation states that in a custody dispute the judge must presume that joint custody is in the “best interests of the child” and “should be ordered.” To make any other decision, a judge
