Women For Fatherhood's Statement on Elian Gonzalez

Women For Fatherhood would first like to commend
Janet Reno and the Department of Justice for their tireless negotiations leading to a safe resolution of the Elian Gonzalez custody matter.The entire country has watched, transfixed, as this story played out. Many were horrified that a child was kept from his surviving parent, especially once Mr. Gonzalez arrived in this country. I would like to take this opportunity to point out that this is happening in this country every day.Every day, custodial parents are withholding their children from non custodial parents. In the absence of documented abuse, this is just as unacceptable as keeping Elian from Juan Miguel. Every day, court orders for shared parenting and visitation are being violated.This morning, Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder stated "There is a bond between father and son that needs to be respected." This bond needs to be respected in regard to United States children as well. The myth of deadbeat dads needs to be put to sleep. The majority of non custodial parents are NOT deadbeat and thismyth is doing a great disservice to them and to their children.Attorney General Reno stated that, as well as the custody order, the Government was in possession of a court order of visitation saying that Juan should see Elian and that they were willing to use that to get them reunited. I implore the Government to uphold the visitation orders that are in effect all over this country today, all that will be ordered in the future and to uphold the rights of US children as vigorously as they did for young Elian. No, I do not suggest that US Marshall's be sent into the homes of every custodial parent who blocks visitation from the non custodial parent. I DO suggest, however, that our leaders change laws, enact laws and uphold the orders set forth in divorce and custody proceedings as they pertain to visitation. Financial support orders are upheld - so, too, should emotional support orders. Non custodial parents are not just wallets to their children. They are an integral part of their lives and should be
allowed to be!Alex Penelas, Mayor of Miami-Dade county, stated that the relatives were negotiating in good faith. Call me jaded, but after 2 ½ years working with families suffering this pain, I believe that the Miami relatives were doing what many US custodial parents do every day-using the court system, as well as their own disregard for the law and what's right, to keep that boy away from his father for their own self interest. I also believe that they felt they were doing the right thing. We need to educate this country in what is truly best for children. We need to take politics out and put parenting back in where it belongs.Yes, on the surface, an international custody battle is different from a domestic one. Each of us needs to look deeper. All it comes down to is the rights of a child to be with his or her parent. That's all that matters, not what country is involved and certainly not what politics surround the players.Violence is erupting in Miami over this. This is yet another indicationthat the rights of that child are not what mattered to the protesters. No one with a child's best interest in their mind could protest against a child being reunited with a parent! We need to remind EVERYONE that, as both the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General have stated, there is a sacred bond between father and son that needs to be respected. We strongly urge our Judges, Attorneys, Politicians, this entire country to respect that sacred bond and move towards allowing this country's children the same opportunity for relationships with their parents that Elian is being afforded.Women For Fatherhood now pleads with all who followed this story and were horrified by this child and this father being kept from each other: This happens every single day in this country. Please don't allow this to continue!Judges, please order Shared Parenting whenever possible. Please, enforce emotional support/visitation as vigorously as you enforce financial support.Lawyers, please consider the CHILDREN in
divorce and custody proceedings. Please remember that the children are also your clients and their interests need protection.Politicians, please look at current legislation and change that which is in direct conflict with the sacred bond of parents and children.Media, understand that all non custodial parents are NOT deadbeats and stop perpetuating this myth.Together, we can work for the children and work towards making this a country of strengthened family ties; happier, stronger children; and an enriched country.Children need Both Parents! Creation intended it this way, or the participation of a man and a woman would not be necessary to procreate.@ 2000, Becky Kiely