The Right To Raise Your Child

Parents in America take for granted that they have the right to raise their child as they see fit.  Except in cases of severe, proved abuse or neglect, the government does not interfere.  In those cases where it does, local government agencies work to protect the child while at the same time providing ample opportunity for the parent to regain or maintain parenting control.

That could change, if the United Nations Children’s Rights treaty is signed by President Barack Obama.  It was brought to the table during the Clinton administration, and defeated, though narrowly.  It’s back.

If passed, the treaty would ban homeschool and private school options, require sex and drug education without the parental right to opt their child out, give children the right to challenge any parenting decision in court, forbid parents from deciding their child’s religion or religious observances, make all forms of corporal punishment illegal, prevent minors under the age of 18 from being tried as adults under any circumstances, allow minors to obtain birth control and/or abortions without parental notification or consent, and give ultimate authority over any parenting decisions to the UN.

Christians aren’t the only ones affected by this!  Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Budhists, Wiccans, Agnostics, Atheists, and everyone that I left out – your faith is being threatened too.  You would be forbidden under this treaty to raise your child according to your faith – whatever it happens to be.  If your child doesn’t want to attend religious observances, s/he can take you to court and allow the United Nations to decide if doing so is in “the best interest of the child” or not.

This is the ultimate issue of sovereignty.  Hitler knew that the way to control a country completely was to teach the children according to the nazi doctrines.  The Hitler Youth Organization was a testament to the success of this theory.  The United Nations is now taking this concept to a global level, removing all parenting authority from parents and placing it in the hands of a single world-wide governing body.

Interestingly, the treaty says nothing of parental responsibility.  Presumably, parents would still be responsible for decisions made by their minor children – even if they have no authority to control such decisions.

Who should bear the ultimate responsibility for raising a child – the parents, or the government?