Indiana woman uses state ‘religious freedom’ law to justify lashing son with coat hanger
A 30-year-old Indiana woman facing felony child abuse charges is arguing that she should not be prosecuted under the state’s “religious freedom” law, WTHR-TV reported.
Kin Park Thaing said in court that she beat her 7-year-old son with a coat hanger in accordance with her religious beliefs and quoted from the Biblical verse Proverbs 23:13, which states, “Do not withhold discipline from a child: if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.”
According to court documents, Thaing attacked the boy on Feb. 3. She said she hit the boy in order to stop him from endangering his 3-year-old sister.
“I was worried for my son’s salvation with God after he dies,” she was quoted as saying. “I decided to punish my son to prevent him from hurting my daughter and to help him learn how to behave as God would want him to.”
Because of that, she asked for the case to be dismissed, claiming her act was in accordance with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was passed last year. Her request was denied.
WTHR-TV reported that authorities got involved when the boy’s teacher saw that he had 36 welts and bruises spread out over his back, neck, and arm. Thaing was also charged with neglect of a dependent and battery.
“We predicted this was exactly was going to happen, is individuals would assert their religious freedom to justify what is clearly criminal conduct,” said Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry.
Thiang, a refugee from Myanmar who was granted political asylum in the US, has already completed parenting therapy she was ordered to attend in a civil case connected to her actions. She said in an affadavit that she “now knows” that there are other ways to discipline one’s child besides physical violence.
The head of a local advocacy group, the Burmese American Community Institute, called the use of capital punishment a “cultural practice” in Myanmar, where police are less likely to intervene unless a parent seriously injures their child. Adjusting to the practices in the US, said Elaisa Vahnie, can be challenging.
They come here sometimes with little or no English. They need to start from scratch,” Vahnie explained. “It’s a completely different environment.”
Thiang is currently slated to stand trial in October.
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Someone is taking God's name in vain.
"Her request was denied."
So, what's the story? The law was not abused.
I blame religion. If she wasn't so concerned about what happens to you after you're dead, she might have understood the horrific injuries she was physically, emotionally and mentally inflicting on her kids.
Thanks for posting a story showing how the RFRA works. Maybe now liberals will stop posting batshit crazy, fear mongering stories about RFRA's.
Based on the article it sounds to me that the larger issue is cultural. Even with that said, it's curious that part of the defense is that she knows very little english and that she was having trouble adjusting to American practices but she understood enough about America to request asylum and to adopt the RFRA as a defense. Personally I don't know how any parent can beat their child in this manner and not realize that it's wrong.
"The head of a local advocacy group, the Burmese American Community Institute, called the use of capital punishment a “cultural practice” in Myanmar, where police are less likely to intervene unless a parent seriously injures their child."
I think they mean "corporal punishment". "Capital punishment" is the death penalty.
I think we're all familiar with the adage "Spare the rod and spoil the child." When I went to public school, the principal would mete out corporal punishment. He would strike our open palms with a wooden ruler. It hurt at the moment, but it did no damage yet taught a lesson. I see nothing wrong with a putch on the tooshie while clothed as being effective, but that only hurts for a little while and does no damage but I believe such discipline can be an important, even in most cases necessary learning tool for children.
My opinion should in no way be interpreted as meaning that I agree with causing injury to a child. The disciplinary punishment I referred to did no physical injury or damage. The example in this article is contrary to western culture, and is an example of understanding by or refusal of immigrants to comply with western civilized behaviour.
My last sentence:
"...and is an example of understanding by or refusal of immigrants to comply with western civilized behaviour."
would be more accurately worded as:
"...and is an example of misunderstanding or refusal by immigrants to comply with western civilized behaviiour."
Makes the the old "Go get me a switch" sound a little better, but not much when they add "Don't make me have to get one, it better be a big one." "Go get me a coat hanger." I'd be looking for the coat that was going on it!!!