The issue of my concern is the overdue need for Family Court reforms; the need for reforms in Child Protection and Family Placement Agencies within the DSS and the repeal of the Mondale Act/CAPTA.
It is unacceptable and intolerable that the constitution of the United States of America is not upheld in Family and Juvenile Courts, especially the fourteenth amendment which guarantees the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, including the right to raise our children with out government interference. The Supreme Court also states that the state should not interfere with the right of a fit parent to raise their child in the Supreme Court case of Troxel Vs Granville.
Child protective workers go beyond their power and override the constitutional rights of their victims. Victims of the system, a bad system that doesn't even protect those that it was designed to protect. Government abuse to children is rampant and performed with the perverse notion that it is 'in the best interests of the child'. We need reform now to save our families.
Judges who rely solely on the testimony of DSS and who never hear the parents even when they are allowed to speak are committing the worse atrocities in our society and denying the very freedom and justice that they are sworn to uphold.
And all for what you may ask? For the money that is provided to the counties by the state and federal government under the Mondale Act/CAPTA for the numbers of children that are stolen from their families. This is a black stain on our country and our advanced society. For how can we call ourselves a world leader and point to human rights abuses in other countries when this happens in our own country. We need to clean up the corruption in our own system of Child Protection and make this agency accountable for their actions before we can hope to protect the children of the world.
I am asking for congressional hearings into these matters. I, for one am ready to be heard. Many others are willing and ready as well. We implore you for a hearing. This is an opportunity for your office to perform a great service to the people of this country. Please don't turn your back on the children of this country. Thank you,
Mary Jo Marceau-Hawthorne
"Those who love your teachings will find true peace and nothing will defeat them." Psalm 119:165
August 23, 2002
On July 29th of this year myself and two other fathers were invited into your office area in the Federal Building in Syracuse NY. I announced to your office secretary that we were visiting the office to ask for an appointment with you, Senator, to discuss family rights issues and the constitution. More specifically, the issue of my concern is the overdue need for Family Court reforms; the need for reforms and accountability in Child Protection and Family Placement Agencies within the DSS, and the repeal of the Mondale Act/CAPTA. We were met by your legislative assistant Kathy Calhoun who asked us "What do you want?" We explained the purpose of our visit. I made a request for an appointment and was met by a very agitated response, "No". I was told by Ms. Calhoun that you did not talk to anyone in those offices. I then asked for an appointment with Ms. Calhoun who then asked us if we were with a man by the name of John Murtari. We said yes. John had prior to our visit informed your office that we would be stopping by to obtain an appointment with you, Senator.
Ms Calhoun became increasing agitated and blurted out, "That man (referring to Mr. Murtari) says that women get more restraining orders than men". Since this topic was not mentioned at all during our visit, we felt that Ms Calhoun was confused. Mr. Richard Eichenger ( one of the two fathers) pleaded that we are parents that are separated from our children and wanted to discuss this matter. To which Ms. Calhoun replied, "There is probably a good reason for this!" I then asked Ms. Calhoun if I could personally get an appointment with her and she flatly said "No". I then asked if I could leave you, Senator a letter explaining our issues and again I was denied. We thanked Ms. Calhoun and left.
I feel that we have been denied access to our representative and wanted to make you aware of this breech of faith with your constituents. Access to our representatives is very important and a sacred constitutional right to us as voters. We were orderly, dressed professionally, and courteous. We need your help, Senator to rescue the families and children of New York. I know in my heart that you are deeply concerned about the families of New York. You said, " I believe if we work together, we really can make a difference for the children and families of New York." We are desperate to work with our representative, Senator.
Senator, children and families are suffering. Overzealous CPS workers who have been given too much power, and family court judges who penalize parents and cut them out of their children's lives during divorce proceedings are hurting children.
At the heart of the problem is the unacceptable and intolerable lack of constitutional protections in Family and Juvenile Courts, especially the fourteenth amendment which guarantees the rights of life, liberty ... the liberty to raise our children with out government interference. The Supreme Court also states that the state should not interfere with the right of a fit parent to raise their child in the Supreme Court case of Troxel Vs Granville. As you said in a 1995 speech to the Child Welfare League: " No government can love a child, and no policy can substitute for a family's care." Family Court Judges, implementing bad policies that limit a child's interaction with one parent in preference to the other parent, deny a child equal access to both parents. Children need both parents. Child protective workers, given too much power override the constitutional rights of their victims. Victims of the system, a bad system that doesn't even protect those that it was designed to protect. While the victims of real abuse suffer. In addition we now have government abuse to children which is rampant and performed with the perverse notion that it is 'in the best interests of the child'. We need reform now to save our families and preserve the strength of our country.
Judges who rely solely on the testimony of DSS , who do not uphold constitutional protections and who never hear the parents even when they are allowed to speak, are committing the worse atrocities in our society and denying the very freedom and justice that they are sworn to uphold. And all for what you may ask? For the money that is provided to the counties by the state and federal government under the Mondale Act/CAPTA for the numbers of children that are stolen from their families. Children who are in danger are not removed as long as services are provided by the county and monies are obtained for county coffers.
This is a black stain on our country and our advanced society. For how can we call ourselves a world leader and point to human rights abuses in other countries when this happens in our own country. We need to clean up the corruption in our own system of Child Protection and make this agency accountable for their actions. Family courts must assure constitutional protections and respect the right of both parents to raise, nurture and educate their children before we can hope to protect the children of the world.
I am asking for your help to start congressional hearings into these matters. We implore you for a hearing. This is an opportunity for you, Senator to perform a great service to the people of this country. We need to start a dialog. Please give us that opportunity. Thank you,
Mary Jo Marceau-Hawthorne
"Those who love your teachings will find true peace and nothing will defeat them." Psalm 119:165
August 23, 2002
On July 29th of this year myself and two other fathers were invited into Senator Clinton's office area in the Federal Building in Syracuse NY. I announced to the office secretary that we were visiting the office to ask for an appointment with Senator Clinton, to discuss family rights issues and the constitution. More specifically, the issue of my concern is the overdue need for Family Court reforms; the need for reforms and accountability in Child Protection and Family Placement Agencies within the DSS, and the repeal of the Mondale Act/CAPTA. We were met by a legislative assistant Kathy Calhoun who asked us "What do you want?" We explained the purpose of our visit. I made a request for an appointment and was met by a very agitated response, "No". I was told by Ms. Calhoun that the Senator did not talk to anyone in those offices. I then asked for an appointment with Ms. Calhoun who then asked us if we were with a man by the name of John Murtari. We said yes. John had prior to our visit informed the office that we would be stopping by to obtain an appointment with the Senator.
Ms Calhoun became increasing agitated and blurted out, "That man (referring to Mr. Murtari) says that women get more restraining orders than men". Since this topic was not mentioned at all during our visit, we felt that Ms Calhoun was confused. Mr. Richard Eichenger ( one of the two fathers) pleaded that we are parents that are separated from our children and wanted to discuss this matter. To which Ms. Calhoun replied, "There is probably a good reason for this!" I then asked Ms. Calhoun if I could personally get an appointment with her and she flatly said "No". I then asked if I could leave the Senator a letter explaining our issues and again I was denied. We thanked Ms. Calhoun and left.
We then went to your office at the Federal Building and were told that you did not handle the issue that prompted our visit. We felt abandoned and that we had been denied access to our representative and wanted to make you aware of this breech of faith with your constituents. Access to our representatives is very important and a sacred constitutional right to us as voters. We were orderly, dressed professionally, and courteous. We need your help, Senator to rescue the families and children of New York. I know in my heart that you are deeply concerned about the families of New York. We are desperate to work with our representative, Senator.
Senator, children and families are suffering. Overzealous CPS workers who have been given too much power, and family court judges who penalize parents and cut them out of their children's lives during divorce proceedings are hurting children.
At the heart of the problem is the unacceptable and intolerable lack of constitutional protections in Family and Juvenile Courts, especially the fourteenth amendment which guarantees the rights of life, liberty ... the liberty to raise our children with out government interference. The Supreme Court also states that the state should not interfere with the right of a fit parent to raise their child in the Supreme Court case of Troxel Vs Granville. Family Court Judges, implementing bad policies that limit a child's interaction with one parent in preference to the other parent, deny a child equal access to both parents. Children need both parents. Child protective workers, given too much power override the constitutional rights of their victims. Victims of the system, a bad system that doesn't even protect those that it was designed to protect. While the victims of real abuse suffer. In addition we now have government abuse to children which is rampant and performed with the perverse notion that it is 'in the best interests of the child'. We need reform now to save our families and preserve the strength of our country.
Judges who rely solely on the testimony of DSS , who do not uphold constitutional protections and who never hear the parents even when they are allowed to speak, are committing the worse atrocities in our society and denying the very freedom and justice that they are sworn to uphold. And all for what you may ask? For the money that is provided to the counties by the state and federal government under the Mondale Act/CAPTA for the numbers of children that are stolen from their families. Children who are in danger are not removed as long as services are provided by the county and monies are obtained for county coffers.
This is a black stain on our country and our advanced society. For how can we call ourselves a world leader and point to human rights abuses in other countries when this happens in our own country. We need to clean up the corruption in our own system of Child Protection and make this agency accountable for their actions. Family courts must assure constitutional protections and respect the right of both parents to raise, nurture and educate their children before we can hope to protect the children of the world.
I am asking for your help to start congressional hearings into these matters. We implore you for a hearing. This is an opportunity for you, Senator to perform a great service to the people of this country. We need to start a dialog. Please give us that opportunity. Thank you,
Mary Jo Marceau-Hawthorne
"Those who love your teachings will find true peace and nothing will defeat them." Psalm 119:165
October 3, 2002
Dear Senator Schumer:
I am re-sending the following letter since there seems to be a mix up regarding my letter of September 11, 2002. I received a letter from your office commending me on my concern for health care reform. I did not write a letter pertaining to Health Care Issues. My letter is specific around three issues: Family/Jeuvenile Court Law Reform, Accountability in CPS, and Family Placement Services Repeal of the Mondale/CAPTA Act.
We would like to meet with your office and have a dialog about these urgent issues. These issues affect the families of New York and other states. I have been in contact with Senator Stephan Saland's office through his legislative assistant Bettina Marlow. Ms. Marlow has communicated to me the Senator's opinion on this matter. He feels that it is not a state issue but a federal issue. Senator Michael Nozzolio, my local represenative, also feels the same. Senator, I am asking you for your help for families across the country. We need your help now to build awareness in the legislature for these needs. Please help us seek congressional hearings.
Sincerely,
Mary Jo Marceau-Hawthorne