Courtesy of Raw Story:
A Massachusetts couple claim they’re victims of religious discrimination because the state won’t allow them to adopt foster children because they spank their own kids.
Gregory and Melanie Magazu sued the Department of Children and Families after their application was rejected because they admitted to using corporal punishment.
“It’s been hard because (being a foster parent) is something that’s been in my heart, that I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Melanie Magazu — who grew up in the foster care system herself.
She and her husband, who are members of Grace Reformation Bible Church, were turned down in 2013 because the state does not allow foster parents to use corporal punishment, as the Magazus do with their own three children.
“Because of the significant trauma children in DCF care may have experienced, Department policy requires that foster parents agree not to use physical punishment as discipline,” said department spokeswoman Andrea Grossman. “This couple was denied as foster parents based on their use of corporal punishment on their biological children and the negative effect that could have on foster children.”
The state argues that many foster children come from abusive homes, so exposure to spanking and other corporal punishment could be traumatizing — but Gregory Magazu said that’s how he shows his Christian love.
You simply do NOT get to use corporeal punishment against children placed in the care of the state, which is exactly as it should be.
And if you want to adopt children, and your go to punishment is to hit them, then you are unfit for the job. And if that is against your religious beliefs than you REALLY need to think about changing your religious beliefs.
As I have mentioned before I work with some of the most challenging young people you can possibly imagine and if I even made a fist in response to one of their behaviors I would be out of a job. Period!
Many of these children have been horribly abused and neglected, and it really takes very little to re-traumatize them. Which is something these two ignorant morons seem unable to grasp.
I have also worked with families who thought that the way to deal with escalating behaviors was to escalate the severity and frequency of the beatings. And yes some of them used their religion as as excuse for the beatings.
Yeah those people do not even SEE their children anymore.
Christian couple sue Massachusetts because the state won't let them adopt foster children to beat.
5:30 AM
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