U.K. father is legally required to take his kids to church
A father in the U.K. has been ordered to take his two sons to Catholic mass as part of a divorce settlement, even though he is not Catholic.
The man, identified only as "Steve" because of legal restrictions, could face charges for contempt of court and even a jail sentence if he doesn't take the children to church on Christmas, according to court transcripts seen by The Telegraph. Steve's ex-wife is Catholic, but The Telegraph reports that she has not been subjected to the same order.
Judge James Orrell, who ordered the church attendance, reportedly discussed his own Catholic beliefs during the county court hearing. Orrell has faced criticism in the past for ordering the removal of three children from their parents' care after a 15-minute hearing.
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"It's all very bizarre," Steve, a 51-year old psychologist, told The Telegraph. "What I think is really concerning is that it does not allow me or my children any freedom of religious expression... my oldest son, who is now 10, has already expressed a clear lack of belief, but legally I am required to take him to Roman Catholic mass at Christmas."
