Merry Christmas visiting friends. Your reading visits please me greatly. For the past three months my GPS blog has concentrated upon the dilemma of one family – the Baynes. Reading regularly, you will have become familiar with their story of shock, despair, loss, faith, advocacy, encouragement and optimism.The conclusion to their story has not yet been written. At least we don’t have access to the manuscript.
Paul and Zabeth Bayne and their children Boy K, Boy B, and Baby B have awoken this Christmas morning in different houses. Paul and Zabeth together today, are without their children for the third Christmas in succession. The children will open presents and foster parents will watch their faces. Behind the happy eyes of children at Christmas, what inarticulate, indefinable sadness is concealed? Customarily when young parents with children at home read this account, the needle of their sympathy meter is in the extreme zone. Grief and disgust are apt descriptors of the intuitive response that most of us have to the grim tale of the Baynes.
A child injured, a medical diagnosis, a suspicion, a confiscation of children, no opportunity for defence, no access to appeal, a shattering legal bill, sale of a home and grand piano, a stack of injustices, a catalogue of discourtesies, unresponsiveness to birth parents, a flouting of law, an unconscionable delay of legal hearing, an appalling demonstration of administrative incompetence and a family devastated but not yet broken.
And here is the reason why these particular parents are not broken. On this Christmas morning Paul and Zabeth rejoice in the birth of another child, not to them alone, but to the world. A birth of God’s own Son Jesus Christ. People of faith, Paul and Zabeth, before they had children of their own, committed their lives to trust exclusively in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour. They know that Christ came to make things right. Righteousness is the economy in which Jesus operates. They believe that during this year 2010, righteousness will be administered to them and to their children. Surrounding them even now is a vast number of supporters, some of whom do not necessarily share their faith commitment but who nonetheless are encouragers because it is the righteous thing to do.
Merry Christmas to each one of you and Merry Christmas to you Paul and Zabeth.
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Merry Christmas Ron & Christine! We are visiting family in AB. The house is a bustle of activity as children play in the back ground. I've found a quite corner to check your blog. In the midst of happy Christmas celebrations my heart is breaking for the Baynes. I've been praying for a miracle - I've been praying that their children would be home for Christmas. God must have a far grander plan, for His answer to the timing of this request for now is no. But I'm confident that behind the "no" is a "not yet". To this I will continue to pray. There are tears in my eyes as I write. Paul & Zabeth - if you read this - I'm still standing with you.
ReplyDeleteDan from McBride, BC
Updated: Apr 14, 2011 6:27 PM MDT
ReplyDeleteFather forced to fight for parental rights after murder acquittal
2:17
Father forced to fight for parental rights after murder – A man cleared of murder by child abuse charges in two criminal trials has found himself in Family Court, and prosecutors say they won't let him live with his own children until he admits his guilt.
The Family Court case against Victor Fakoya was set before the criminal trials. But his attorney says after the first trial ended in a hung jury and Fakoya was acquitted of criminal charges in the second trial, Child Protective Services showed up at his door and told him to get out.
CPS reportedly told Fakoya that he couldn't live with his two daughters until he takes a child abuse class that ends with an admission of guilt.
Meaning, Victor Fakoya could lose his parental rights if he doesn't admit to a crime for which he's been cleared.
"Should he not admit that he's responsible for killing a child," says defense attorney Kristina Wildeveld, "his children, his rights to his children will be terminated. And that is the ultimate tragedy. This, I actually think is worse than the murder trial."
The arrest report revealed a roommate's toddler died while in Fakoya's care. Court testimony, however, revealed the child had been sick for some time.
"After he was released from the criminal trial, he was released from jail," says Wildeveld. "He went home and CPS showed up at his door and told him there was an active CPS case and he wasn't allowed to reside in his home."
Fakoya's attorneys and jurors from both trials are furious that he's being tried again, showing up to support him in Family Court.
"I think that this is just uncalled for," says former juror Hale Benton. "The man's been found not guilty and he was acquitted, and they're going through this. It wasn't a murder. If anything it was an accident. But it wasn't Mr. Fakoya."
A judge denied prosecutors' request to close the Family Court proceedings. A hearing is set for Friday for a court-appointed attorney since defense attorney Kristina Wildeveld says Fakoya can't afford her private fees.
Monday Fakoya is scheduled for the Family Court's version of a preliminary hearing. Wildeveld says he is willing to take the abuse class without the graduation requirement.
Fakoya's wife has been caring for their two children since he first went to jail in 2008.
Dear D from A, I have passed your comment on the the Baynes.
ReplyDelete