CT Divorced Men.com

BY TASK FORCE CHAIRED BY REP. JIM AMANN
Hartford, CT July16,2008: Connecticut's first ever Fatherlessness Task Force meeting was held at the Legislative Office Building on July 10, 2008. Speaking briefly at the meeting were John DiBiase and William Mulready, two members of the Connecticut Civil Rights Council (CCRC), a father's rights group based in Meriden, CT representing hundreds of Connecticut fathers.

Mr. DiBiase is a CCRC co-chair and a member of the Divorced Men's Association of Connecticut (DMAC) informed the Task Force that he answers the Men's Hot Line for the DMAC, gets hundreds of referrals from the 211 state infoline. Mr. DiBiase has been the Hotline's intake worker for aboul the last ten years. William Mulready is the Americans with Disabililies Act (ADA) researcher for the group and addressed issues concern disabled fathers. Mr DiBiase relayed his experiences with the DMAC Hotline, including the fact that he not only gets many calls from separated or divorced fathers, but also gets calls from women related to or connected with men involved in the family court system. Mr. DiBiase stated, "Fatherlessness is a systemic problem with the Judiclal System. Most of the men who call the Hotline complain of Judicial bias against fathers and how the system alienates them from their children. Sometimes men are very emotional when they call, especially if they have been married for some time. Dr Warren Farrell talks in his Book "Women Can't Hear what Men Don't Say" about the emotional deprivation men experience when their spouse leaves them (on Page 62) or files for a divorce. Men experience both financial loss as well as the emotional supports that their wives and children provided during the marriage or relationship. Dr. Farrell also speaks about the difficulty boys have adjusting to this new life and divorce.

Historically, there is bias against fathers in the family court. lt is DMAC position that fathers and mothers of divorce should be given equal treatment and rights in family court, but are being denied.

What are the cause of fatherlessness?:
1. Lack of enforcement of "visitation" court orders by the courts and police.
2. Intentional interference between the non-custodial and the children by the custodial parent.
3. Fears of incarceration for non payment of child support orders.
4. Unreasonable parenting time given to the non residential parent.
5. Intimidation and hostile actions taken by GAL's appointed by the courts.
6. Double standards and biases of the courts and law enforcement.

Evidence suggests that often the actions taken by family courts and angry ex-spouses lead to parental alienation, most often, of the father. 24 Million children nationwide are alienated from their fathers. Mothers and some courts are unwilling to hold the alienating mothers accountable for interfering with a child's right to have access to both parents.

Parental alienation is an "act of child abuse' whether it is by the Government of by an individual. Rep. Bruce Morris of The Fatherlessness Task Force told the CCRC that a Task Force meeting will be held in the future to address the group's concerns and issues.

The Connecticut Civil Rights Association has sought for several sessions to have legislation passed regarding protection for families with a disabled parent, improved GAL accountability, and attorneys for Veterans and person's with disabilities. Much credit is given to State Representative
Emil Altobello of Meriden for his tireless efforts in getting these bills introduced in past years. Concerned divorced fathers and mothers may contact CCRC at parentshelpline@aol.com
John DiBiase 203-464-8242
or Christopher Kennedy CKsubs@aol.com 860-871-8538.
or
Ken Krajewski 860-881-6311