Court Drops Counselor Accused Of Inserting God Into Co-Parenting Classes

[beam me up scottie]

Court Drops Counselor Accused Of Inserting God Into Co-Parenting Classes

A state trial court in Albuquerque, New Mexico, ended its relationship this week with a mediation provider who allegedly required single mother Holly Salzman to participate in prayer and religious assignments as part of court-ordered family counseling.

Albuquerque news station KRQE first reported the split, and The Huffington Post confirmed the news with Salzman. A court spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment.

The New Mexico Second District Court's decision to terminate ties with counseling provider Mary Pepper comes after KRQE reported last week on Salzman's troubled experience with her.

Salzman, who is engaged in a custody dispute over her 11-year-old twins, was directed by the court to begin taking classes with Pepper in November. She said she was surprised to find the counselor incorporating religious handouts, prayer and assignments of spiritual reflection into each session. Pepper chastised Salzman for her support for abortion access and often asked her what God would have her do in various situations, Salzman told The Huffington Post.

...


Salzman plans to file a lawsuit against Pepper before the end of the month.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/custody-dispute-prayer-albuquerque_56040bb7e4b00310edfa3678

Good news!


I posted this story here earlier this month and was amazed by how many DUers responded:


Atheist Mom Forced Into Court-Ordered Christian Counseling

[onager]

1. Bump! Thanks, that is good news.

Glad to hear she's suing.

This sounds more like something that would happen where you or I live. That blind spot believers have is amazing and I see it all the time since I moved back here. First they just assume you're a church-going Xian. If they find out you're not, then they assume you just need to find the right church. To be HAPPY! When they find out you're perfectly happy without drinking the Jesus-Juice, things can get uncomfortable pretty quickly.

[beam me up scottie]

2. It sure does.

What a horrible situation that was, forcing the mother to listen to an extremist preach about Jeebus and write an essay "Who is God to me?"

Who knows what else she said that didn't get reported because other people didn't want to lose their kids.

If Salzman hadn't recorded it she'd still have her job.







Good for you Holly Salzman!

[RussBLib]

3. I'll bet the recordings were not doctored, either

didn't need to be doctored

these folks are crazy

always keep a recorder handy. my phone has one built in, bet yours does too

[beam me up scottie]

5. The woman is a documented extremist.

And extremists are indeed mentally disturbed.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

4. What's horrible

is that there were people here at DU that wanted to blame the mother and defend the counselor. No matter a person's political stripes, religion makes some people stupid.

[beam me up scottie]

6. Exactly. I was wondering if they'd show their face in this thread.

They were all over the first one, calling the mother a liar and a bitter ex who wanted to lose her kids to spite her husband - which doesn't even make sens ffs.

Somehow I doubt they'll be back here anytime soon.