| --PEERgroup --Parental Equality Enforcement Resource Group |
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| This article was written by in 1998 by Dean Tong, a free-lance writer who resides in Florida and is the author of several books on parenting and divorce issues. The article was offered to The Times for publication but was rejected. It is interesting to note that Mary Beth Bonaventura is on the Editorial Board of The Times. Clearly a newspaper could be reluctant to publish any negative news about one of its own editors. Can we expect objective reporting from a newspaper that has on its Editorial Board the very people it is supposed to be reporting on? |
| The Ultimate Weapon: Sexual Abuse Allegations Put System On Trial Garry Kirk, a successful businessman from Indiana who now resides in Illinois, wants to be a father. That's all. His ex-wife Kathy Kirk, who resides in Missouri, has other ideas. In a Crown Point, Indiana post-divorce action turned protracted custody battle in 1995, she accused him of molesting their now 9 year old daughter on several occasions. All allegations have been deemed unfounded by the mental health and legal decision makers. Yet, Garry cannot see his child, Teri Ann, still. The current climate of opinion being, if we're going to make a mistake we will do so on the side of caution. It goes without saying that sexual child abuse of a minor is a contemptible crime...one that deserves the ultimate punishment allowed by law, assuming the accusations are supported by the evidence. But, what if there is no evidence, other than hearsay from a vindictive mother and suggestible child? Should a court of law excise a child from a parents life and vice-versa based on a 'statement of fear' from a severely brainwashed child, one that has been used as a pawn or tool in the midst of a SAID (Sexual Allegations In Divorce) Syndrome case? I have witnessed firsthand hundreds of parental alienation cases involving moms who suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder. They are expert manipulators who go to great lengths to 'prove' their case. Yet, they all finish a distant second to Terry Cook’s former spouse who has succeeded in convincing the young child 'daddy touched you in bad places.' Moreover, through the mothers inducement, the child has changed her name to "Ann" only, in hopes of completing the 'parentectomy'. Dr. Richard Gardner, a recognized forensic expert in the field of child sexual abuse and parental alienation, states the "timing" of the allegation of sexual child abuse is crucial as to its determination of truth versus falsehood. Consider this timeline of events: Garry and Kathy Kirk were married in January of 1988 and their marriage was dissolved in August of 1990. At that time the mother was awarded custody of Teri Ann and the father normal visitation rights. Ironically, the mother “had” to participate in the fathers visitations with the child for the next 5 years. In September of 1995 the mother stopped all visitations between father and child, alleging sexual abuse. The allegations came immediately after Garry Kirk advised Kathy that Teri Ann was old enough to visit with him alone outside of her presence. A court appointed psychologist, Dr. Marguerite Rebesco, stated "Prior to the September, 1995 incident, Terry did have a meaningful and positive relationship with his child." The Guardian-Ad-Litem added, "Both Dr. Rebesco and I independently found no substantiation to the allegations." Douglas Besharov, a former prosecutor of child abuse cases in New York and original director of the National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect, has stated that greater than 60% of child sexual abuse reports that arise out of divorce and custody, are unfounded. Combine this with Dr. Stephen Cecis research on the suggestibility of young children where abuse allegations are fostered in acrimonious cases, and the aforementioned conclusions by the professionals in this case, and the Cook case is representative of a travesty of justice. Kathy Cook had the motive, method and opportunity to eradicate a loving father from the life of a child. Probably delusional, with a wish-fulfillment the father really did commit heinous acts upon their child, she has used the psychological weapons of projection and transference to convince young Teri Ann she is a victim of her fathers sexual appetite. In reality, Teri Ann has been raped, but not by the father. She's been assaulted, emotionally and psychologically, by her mother. The mother has upset the reunification process between father and child, by going to extremes to do so. At one point, the child states "I tell my mom everything and she helps me with my problems." It is incumbent we mete out harsh punishments against those malcontents who prey upon our youth. They are the lowest forms this society has to offer. Conversely, our triers-of-fact must not be hoodwinked by pathological parents who utilize the same for their own self-serving agenda. Our courts can truly serve children’s best interests when their judgments are consistent with the weight of the evidence. If she was able to opine independent of her mother I'm certain Teri Ann Cook would agree. The hallmark of a competent parent is the ability to support his or her child in a relationship with the other parent. Nineteen million children in America today live with one parent, only. Many of the same do have a relationship with the non-custodial parent. Teri Ann Cook does not. She has been ripped from her fathers heart and vice-versa...The Ultimate Excision. Mr. Tong can be emailed at DeanTong@aol.com |
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| "All the cards were marked in advance. The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance." - Bob Dylan, Hurricane |