Foster parent struck off after Muslim girl converts to Christianity.

[MrsSeanBeanIsEmployable]

See here

I am struggling to understand the reasoning behind this decision.

It would appear to be unfair, unequal and disrespectful of the right of a 16 year old to make her own decision, not to mention discriminatory against the foster mother.

I was not aware that foster carers had to live a secular life. What else could she have done?!

The thing which I think annoys me most is 'Council officials advised the teenager to reconsider her decision' .... who the *?%$ do they think they are to advise anyone on matters of faith?

It seems to be part of our ghastly blame culture. Even those entrusted to be foster parents aren't trusted to make parental decisions.

This is straying off the subject, but last week I heard (anecdotally) that no pavements were being cleared, because if an effort was made to clear them and someone had a fall, the Council would be liable. Whereas, presumably doing nothing, and risking more accidents, is OK - as those accidents that might occur couldn't be 'blamed' on anyone.

Oh I can see that MrsS, people saying the council didn't clear the pavements properly, but I saw they had a bit so I thought it must be safe to go out

This seems like one of those cases where we don't know much about it, but it is so tempting for everyone to use it as a launchpad for thier own hobby horse!!

I completely agree with StewieGM about what would happen if the conversion was the other way around.

And 'PC' has become shorthand for undermining anyone who thinks twice before ladelling out great dollops of prejudice!

Bah, Councils, lack of grit, wrong kind of snow. Next winter I'm investing in some snow chains and spiked boots and I'll take my chances.

This seems like one of those cases where we don't know much about it, but it is so tempting for everyone to use it as a launchpad for thier own hobby horse!!

Blu

'Twas ever thus

By the way, just referring back to what SGB4MV said earlier. I don't agree that Christians want or expect any more rights than anyone else, but genuine equality would be nice. All faiths should be respected. When crucifixes are banned and other religious symbols allowed, it doesn't seem very equal to me. Imagine the (justified) uproar if turbans were banned and crucifixes allowed for example.

Foster carers ARE part of the institutional care system, and are paid as such.

I am sure that many - hopefully most - are doing it with more emphasis on the 'parent' aspect - buut many do it because it is paid. My organisation does a project with teenage refugees - unaccompanied minors. One has a foster carer who puts his food on a special shelf in the fridge and tells him to help himself - it is all 'Value' ranges. Shge cooks fr everyone else from premium ranges. Another says she has a duty to provide, but not cook, and ghives the boy £5 a day to get lunch and supper from a cheap fried chicken shop. We were planning a special (free!) half term activity for children with multiple and severe disabilities - a member of the 'corporate parenting' team at the council told us that unless the foster families were given incentives such as Argos vouchers, they would not bring them - and that the council use the same incentives to get them to take these children to the dentist!

I think StewieGM makes some v good points, and it absolutely makes sense to have different levels of responsibility fr care - I can only imagine what it must be like for a mother who has had to go into hospital for serious surgery and her child temporarily fostered, to come out and fiond that her dd has had all her long hair cut off

We seem to know v little about this case, so probably best not too make too many speculative judgements. there could be a million sallient circumstances that we don't know.

Blu >>One has a foster carer who puts his food on a special shelf in the fridge and tells him to help himself - it is all 'Value' ranges.

How very depressing that all is Blu

so essentially a parent can be neglecting/abusing their children thus resulting in them being taken away, and yet they still have the say re their care? bloody unbelieveable.

Having said that though, I know a visually impaired couple who applied to adopt, and who were told that would not be possible as the disabled are not allowed to adopt, however they would be allowed to foster, but only disabled children as if the parents found out atheir able-bodied child was being fostered by disabled foster parents it might upset them.

As opposed to what other kind of equality, MrsSeanBean? The wholesale (alledged) oppression of christians?

They are doing fuck all, of course. The department is staffed by a high turnover of staff who are pressurised to meet targets (hence the incentives).

It is only fair to say that other young people are being very well looked after and emoptionbally supported by their foster carers. But you can't make assumptions, unfortunately.

the disabled are not allowed to adopt

I'm sorry Blu, did I say something to upset you?

As opposed to inequality based on race, gender, skin colour, (dis)ability apparently.

Oh and religion and sexual orientation of course.

MrsSB: regarding the crucifixes/turbans remark: this is exactly what I mean by attention-seeking, bucketheaded, shitstirring Christians wanting more rights than other people. It is an inherent part of the Sikh faith to wear a turban; a turban is not an offensive garment, nor does it inconvenience the wearer or get in the way of his/her job. It is not an inherent part of Christianity to wear a great big clanking crucifix and wave it at people; many Christians don't actually wear crosses or crucifixes at all, and in the case of that stupid cow at British Airways, she wasn;t even forbidden to wear one, she was forbidden to flaunt it.

SGM - that's why it's so sad to hear of this FM who has been struck off because a girl above the aage of consent decided to convert (unless there are other serious issues which we are not aware of).

You're welcome to your views SGB$MV. I think you are protesting a bit too much though.

BTW I am not attention seeking, bucketheaded or shit-stirring. Is that a general label you apply to all Christians then? As you are so keen on equalities, it would be interesting to hear your descriptions of the other faiths.

BTW nor do I wear a crucifix, but I respect the right of someone to wear it if they so desire.

I don't think you can compare crucifixes and turbans, though. If you said to me that someone's employer was trying to stop them from going to church on a Sunday to take their communion, that would be comparable. But as far as I know, you are not required to wear a cross for the entire time in order to be a practising Christian. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm playing devils advocate because I think people should be allowed to wear their crosses if they want to, but I'm just pointing out that it isn't quite the same.

Sorry - I thought your comment was a follow-on from the beginning of the thread about a christian foster parent apparantly having been struck off and the question of christians being unfairly treated in comparison to 'the other way around' (a pov I do not subscriv=be to...for reasons StewiGM posted mroe recently)

ANYWAY....the answer is...the council are doing fuck all about ti! And they, and SS are so under seige, under-funded and of low morale that i don't know what they can do. Rely on the good will of nice caring foster parents.

Our Child protection policy states that we do not release a child from our care if we believe they are going into an unsafe situation. An 11 yo turned up here having run from home the previous week. Knowing he came here for activities, his parent stalked him and waited outside. In conversation, the parent told me something that made me certian that the home was not safe. This was backed up by what the child had said to his group leader. We called SS. My staff waited at work with the child until 10pm. SS key worker came...had nowhere safe to take the child, no foster carers etc, no emergency accommodation...so took him back to his parent. He couldn't come to the session the following week - he had 'fallen off a friends bike which was too big for him' and had three broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. I think Corporate Parenting and SS are grateful for any foster care they can get and someone doing it for the money and feeding a child Value food is the least of their worries.

As fro disabled adopters....thgis is something else that brings out my inner cynical! I think i ranted about it on the thread about the child adopted by gay men...basically, it seems, gay and disabled adoptive families are approved if it is an older child with disabilities or behavioural problems. I could detail the families I know of where this has been the case...and I think it was confirmed by people with SS knowledge on the other thread.

It's all so and