Category Archives: Community

September 20, 2026 · 1:00 am

Gaming the System, Part 2

Broken Family, Image courtesy of Cap and Share https://capandshare.org

We continue our examination of the impact of government aid programs and fraud on the breakdown of the family.

Government Aid Programs and Taxes

There are sharp differences of opinion as to whether the tax system has become increasingly progressive or less so [1][2].  Certainly, the perceived burden of taxes on the working class has increased [3].  

At the same time, a growing number advocate for a “universal basic income” from the government, not recognizing that the government must be funded by some means [4][5][6].

Whatever the truth, without question fraud is driving up the cost of government aid programs [7].  Politicians are not likely to resolve the problem soon, since they carefully avoid sacred cows to assure that they, themselves, remain in office [8].

The Family, the Church, and Government

The Bible views the family, the church, and government as three distinct but interrelated spheres of influence [9]. 

God established the family as the first and basic unit of society (Gen. 2: 24) [10A].  The family is a model of God’s own love (Eph. 5: 25, 28, 33), designed to meet essential human needs (1 Tim. 5: 8) and raise children in His love, instruction, and discipline (Deut. 6: 6-7; Matt. 19: 14; Eph. 6: 1-4).

The church is the Body of Christ, a spiritual family and community of believers that transcends biological ties (1 Cor. 12: 27).  The role of the church is to provide moral guidance, fellowship, and service to others, equipping believers to live as God intended [11A].  

Government is the civil authority instituted by God to maintain order and justice [10B].  As reflected in the Preamble to the US Constitution, the role of government is to provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, collect taxes, enforce laws and judge evildoers, while protecting good conduct (Rom. 13: 1-7)[16]. 

Government cannot function well when – as today – there is serious disagreement about what constitutes the general welfare and good conduct; and many simply ignore what once were societal norms.

Clearly, government cannot substitute for the family, though we are trending in that direction [12][13][14].  When the family fails, the church, government, and society at large suffer [11B][15]. 

Those gaming the system are harming us all.

—

[1]  University of Chicago Law School, “How Progressive Is the US Tax System?” by Thomas Coleman and David Weisbach, 2023, https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/law_and_economics_wp/119/.

[2]  GovFacts, “The Tax Revolution that Created Today’s Inequality Crisis”, 6/24/25 (Updated 12/5/25), https://govfacts.org/long-term-challenges-future/economic-transformation/economic-inequality-trends/how-80-years-of-changing-us-tax-policy-have-reshaped-american-wealth/.

[3]  YouTube, “High Taxes Are Hitting the Working Class Harder than Ever”, https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=has+tax+burden+on+working+class+increased+in+uSA+during+past+25+years&mid=F7F839FA19D8863644DAF7F839FA19D8863644DA&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUCmXyOLGT5U3XGc3txarblKA&FORM=VIRE.

[4]  Wikipedia, “Universal basic income”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_basic_income.

[5]  Income Movement, “Fighting for Basic Income”, https://www.incomemovement.org/about.

[6]  US Congress, “Universal Basic Income Proposals for the United States”, 4/3/18, https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF10865/IF10865.3.pdf.

[7]  US Government Accountability Office (GAO), “Fraud and Improper Payments”, https://www.gao.gov/fraud-improper-payments#:~:text=In%20FY%202025%2C%2015%20federal%20agencies%20reported%20a,these%20improper%20payments%20were%20a%20result%20of%20overpayments.

[8]  Bryan E. Hall, “Sacred Cows —  Eleven Political Positions that Are Patently Wrong But Untouchable”, 3/15/26, https://bryanehall.substack.com/p/sacred-cows.

[9]  Think Institute, “Church, State, and Family:  A Biblical Framework” by Joseph Settecase,  https://thethink.institute/articles/church-state-and-family-a-biblical-framework.

[10A and 10B]  BibleHub, “Church and Family Dynamics”, https://biblehub.com/topical/c/church_and_family_dynamics.htm.

[11A and 11B]  Watermark Community Church, “Politically Correct:  The Roles of Family, Government, and the Church” by Campus Pastor Blake Holmes, 10/18/20, https://www.watermark.org/message/7810-politically-correct-the-roles-of-family-government-and-the-church.

[12] National Affairs, “The Future of Family Policy” by Abby McCloskey, Winter 2022, https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/the-future-of-family-policy.

[13] National Affairs, “The Limits of Parents’ Rights” by Naomi Schaefer Riley, Summer 2024, https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/the-limits-of-parents-rights.

[14] CalMatters, “A Trump order targets gender-affirming care for youth. California is suing to block it” by Ana Ibarra, 8/1/25, https://calmatters.org/health/2025/08/gender-affirming-care-lawsuit/.

[15] Cap and Share (CAS), “The Ripple Effect:  How Broken Families Affect Your Community” by Jonathan Anderson, 8/3/23, https://capandshare.org/broken-families-affect-community/.

[16] Constitution Annotated, “Preamble to US Constitution”, https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/preamble/.

Part 1 in this series was posted 9/13/26.

FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com

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September 13, 2026 · 1:00 am

Gaming the System, Part 1

Creative Commons Licensed Clipboard Fraud Image, Source Picpedia.org, Authors Nick Youngson http://www.nyphotographic.com/ and Alpha Stock Images https://alphastockimages.com/, (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported)

As we watch the family break down, government is both accelerating the process and attempting to take up the slack, albeit stumbling under the load [1][2].  On top of this, there are many whose aim in life is to “game the system” for their own benefit.  That has not helped.

The impact on children is particularly devastating.

Government Aid Programs

With charitable support by churches having weakened over the years, the need for government funding of poverty housing, nutritional assistance for the poor, and support for the disabled has increased [3][4][5].

  • Co-parenting – shared responsibility for childrearing by those no longer in a relationship – is a reality these days, as divorce rates attest [6].  Some 40% of first marriages end in divorce; 60% – 67% of second and third marriages end that way [7].  However, 2/3 of non-resident fathers avoid formal child support payments [8A].  Unpaid child support in the United States exceeds $32 billion [8B].
  • Illegitimacy rates (which plunge children into poverty) demonstrate that co-parenting would be a dream come true for many single parents abandoned by a partner [9][10].  By 2022, 52% of the children of single mothers were living below the poverty line. Welfare benefits and food stamps – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – are tremendously important.
  • Government benefits to physically or mentally disabled individuals can be a lifesaver. The caregivers paid by the government to regularly look after the sick, elderly, or disabled are a real blessing.

Fraud

Unfortunately, government programs meant to assist the needy cannot be effectively monitored, so fraud is easily missed [11].  There was, for instance, a massive Medicaid fraud exceeding $90 million recently uncovered in Minnesota [12].

Regrettably, there are those who see the government as an open cash register, readily susceptible to false claims:  claims that a relationship does not exist, even as children are brought into the world; claims of unemployment where employment “under the table” is ongoing, or income is derived by other illegal means; claims of disability where none exists; and claims of caregiving where none is rendered (or none needed at all) [13A].

Food stamps are traded by some for liquor, drugs, cigarettes or cash on the black market.  In 2019, there was an estimated $1 billion in such SNAP fraud [14].

In addition to this, scammers using skimming technology annually steal around $12 billion in food stamps from families [15]. 

Impact of Government Aid Programs on Marriage

“…If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thess. 3: 10).

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5: 8).

Despite the best of intentions, many aid programs have had the unintended consequence of undermining both the work ethic and marriage [16][17][18]. 

Why work and be required to pay taxes, if the government is willing to provide food and housing [13B][19]?  Why marry and be required to support children, if the government is willing to do that?  So goes the warped thinking of more than a few.

Of course, no amount of government aid can replace an absent father in the life of a child [20][21][22].

Weaponized Protective Orders  

Meanwhile, overburdened courts, now faced with an avalanche of requests for Protective Orders in custody cases, struggle to distinguish between true and false claims of abuse [23].

—

[1] GovFacts, “How Government Is Adapting to the Changing American Family”, 8/25/25, https://govfacts.org/long-term-challenges-future/social-cultural-futures/changing-family-structures/how-government-is-adapting-to-the-changing-american-family/.

[2] Michael Carbonara, “What is the current trend in the American family structure? A clear overview” by Michael Carbonara, 2/20/26, https://michaelcarbonara.com/the-american-family-today-trends/.

[3]  NRB, “New Surveys Find Charitable Giving In Decline”, 8/8/14, https://nrb.org/new-surveys-find-charitable-giving-in-decline/.

[4]  Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, “Giving USA 2025:  Trends in Religious Giving” by Erica Dollhopf PhD,  https://lakeinstitute.org/resource-library/insights/july-15-2025/.

[5]  Horizons Stewardship, “Giving USA 2024:  Disturbing Trends Giving Trends”,  https://blog.horizons.net/giving-usa-research-giving-trends.

[6]   Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Marriage and Divorce”, 3/17/25, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/marriage-divorce.htm.

[7]  Divorce Law, “US Divorce Rate Hits 50-Year Low:  Only 40% of First Marriages Now End in Divorce” by Antonio Jimenez, Esq., 4/4/26, https://divorce.law/guides/news/us-divorce-rate-hits-50-year-low-only-40-percent-first-marriages-end-divorce/.

[8A and 8B]  Rich Niches, “Deadbeat Dad Statistics:  Understanding the Impact on Families and Society in 2023” by Ryan Kangail and Rich Niches, 6/2/26, https://richniches.com/deadbeat-dads-statistics/.

[9]  Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Unmarried Childbearing”, 6/10/26, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/unmarried-childbearing.htm.

[10]  Worldmetrics, “Single Mother Poverty Statistics” by Kathryn Blake, 5/5/26, https://worldmetrics.org/single-mother-poverty-statistics/.

[11]  Connect US, “17 Huge Advantages and Disadvantages of Welfare”, 5/17/19, https://connectusfund.org/17-huge-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-welfare.

[12] US Dept. of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, “Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in Charges Against 15 Defendants for $90M in Fraud”, 5/21/26, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/minnesota-health-care-fraud-takedown-results-charges-against-15-defendants-over-90m-fraud#:~:text=The%20Justice%20Department%20today%20announced%20the%20Minnesota%20Health,and%20first-of-their%20kind%20charges%20involving%20additional%20Medicaid%20programs.

[13A and 13B]  Institute for Youth in Policy, “Cons: Welfare”, https://yipinstitute.org/article/cons-welfare.

[14]  Esquilo, “Who Buys Food Stamps for Cash:  The Truth Behind this Illicit Trade” by Stephen Adriano, 12/29/23, https://esquilo.io/food-stamps/who-buys-food-stamps-for-cash/.

[15]  Investigate TV, “Families suffer as $12 billion stolen from food assistance programs, USDA says” by Anastassia Olmos, 11/11/25, https://www.investigatetv.com/2025/11/11/families-suffer-12-billion-stolen-food-assistance-programs-usda-says/.

[16]  University of Maryland, School of Public Policy, Welfare Reform Academy, “Understanding the Rise in Illegitimacy” by Robert Rector, https://welfareacademy.umd.edu/conf/papers/rector_p.html.

[17]  US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, “Congressional Testimony by Robert Rector – Understanding Marriage Penalties in Welfare and Their Impact on Society”, 2/11/25, https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Rector-Written-Testimony.pdf.

[18]  Brookings Institute, “Fragile Families, Welfare Reform, and Marriage” by Irwin Garfinkel, Ronald Mincy, and Sara McLanahan, 12/1/01, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/fragile-families-welfare-reform-and-marriage/.

[19]  Classroom/Synonym, “The Disadvantages of Social Welfare to Human Development” by Joel Garrison, 9/28/17, https://classroom.synonym.com/the-disadvantages-of-social-welfare-to-human-development-12084203.html.

[20]  The Parenting Pro, “Absent Fathers: How Fatherless Homes Affect Child Development” by Michael Bennett, 4/20/25, https://theparentingpro.com/effects-of-absent-fathers-on-child-development/.

[21]  NeuroLaunch, “Psychological Effects of Absent Parents:  Long-Term Impact on Children’s Well-Being”, 9/14/24 (Edited 7/3/26), https://neurolaunch.com/psychological-effects-of-absent-parents/.

[22]  Owlcation, “Echoes of Absence:  The Lasting Impact of A Missing Father”, 6/24/25, https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/psychological-effects-of-growing-up-without-a-father.

[23]  Attorney at Law Magazine, “The Silver Bullet Method:  The Rise of False Allegations in Divorce and Custody Cases” by Padideh Jafari, 3/3/25, https://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/legal/legal-trends/the-silver-bullet-method-the-rise-of-false-allegations-in-divorce-and-custody-cases.

This series will conclude next week.

FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com

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August 16, 2026 · 1:00 am

Fidelity

Wedding photo of Charles and Kathleen Whitman (1962), Source eBay, Author unknown (Public Domain).

The Bible describes marital fidelity as a sacred commitment involving love, respect, and faithfulness between spouses [1].

A Divine Covenant

The Bible views marriage as a divinely instituted covenant where a husband and wife become “one flesh” (Gen. 2: 24) [2].  Fidelity is central to this covenant, so sexual immorality or adultery is explicitly condemned (Heb. 13: 4).  The Seventh Commandment, of course, forbids adultery (Ex. 20: 14).

A Loving Bond

However, marital fidelity extends beyond avoiding adultery.  It encompasses honesty, loyalty, and a deep respect.  The Bible instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loves His church (Eph. 5:25), and wives to respect their husbands (Eph. 5: 33).  Such love is not just a feeling, but an unwavering bond [3].

Sexual Fulfillment

Surprisingly, the Bible specifically addresses sexual fidelity within marriage, emphasizing that spouses should fulfill each other’s conjugal rights to prevent temptation and maintain intimacy (1 Cor. 7: 3-5).  Lustful intent constitutes adultery in the heart (Matt. 5: 28).

Sexual Revolution

We may today think this old fashioned. 

After all, the sexual revolution of the 1960s changed attitudes and behavior related to sexuality throughout the Western World [4].  Nearly 2 in 5 children in the United States – some 1 million children – are now born out of wedlock each year [5A][6].  More than 2 in 3 Black children are born outside marriage [7]. This is part of a global trend, with out of wedlock births exceeding 50% in many countries [5B].

Poverty and Out of Wedlock Births

Unfortunately, research consistently shows that children born out of wedlock face poverty risks approximately 5 times higher than those born to married parents [8].  This is because single parents often have lower household incomes, fewer resources, and less access to economic stability. 

Studies find that never-married mothers work less outside the home, earn less when they do work outside the home, and experience slower income growth compared to married or divorced mothers [9].  This limits their ability to lift their children out of poverty.  

Growing up in poverty can have a profound and lasting impact on children’s self-esteem [10].  Children living in poverty often face stressors like chronic food insecurity, unstable housing, and limited access to healthcare, all of which can ultimately lead to anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues [11]. 

Modeling

Moreover, children raised in single parent households do not see fidelity modeled.   They do not see women treated with respect, hence the term “baby mamas” for unmarried mothers who no longer have even the status of girlfriends.  It is not a great leap to domestic violence.

Abuse Risk

Studies show that children in single-parent households are at greater risk of abuse and neglect as compared to those living with married biological parents, and at greater risk of witnessing domestic violence [12][13].

History

There may be still another lesson to be drawn here. 

The ethnologist and social anthropologist JD Unwin found a correlation between marital fidelity and cultural achievement across the 80 tribes and 6 major civilizations he studied, covering a period of 5000 years [14]. The people groups who became increasingly liberal toward sexual morality eventually vanished.

Having embraced so called “sexual freedom” in the name of progress, we may well have doomed ourselves to the ash heap of history, regardless of our technological achievements.

—

[1]  OpenBible, “Marital Fidelity”, https://www.openbible.info/topics/marital_fidelity.

[2]  BibleHub, “The Seriousness of Marital Fidelity”, https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_marital_fidelity.htm.

[3]  BibleRepository, “35 Important Bible Verses about Fidelity to Relationships (Explained)” by “Pastor David”, 5/12/26, https://biblerepository.com/bible-verses-about-fidelity-to-relationships/.

[4]  Wikpedia, “Sexual revolution”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_revolution#:~:text=The%20sexual%20revolution%2C%20also%20known%20as%20the%20sexual,late%201950s%20to%20the%20early%201970s.%20%5B1%5D%20.

[5A and 5B]  World Population Review, “Out of Wedlock Births by Country 2026”, https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/out-of-wedlock-births-by-country.

[6]  Institute for Family Studies, “America’s Unmarried Birth Rate Puts 1 Million Kids at Risk A Year” by Nicholas Zill, 6/3/26, https://ifstudies.org/blog/americas-unmarried-birth-rate-puts-1-million-kids-at-risk-a-year.

[7]  World Data, “Unmarried Birthrate by Race in US:  Statistics and Facts”, 10/29/25, https://theworlddata.com/unmarried-birth-rate-by-race/.

[8]  American Enterprise Institute (AEI), “Dynamics of Families after a Non-Marital Birth” by Angela Rachidi, 1/8/24, https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/dynamics-of-families-after-a-nonmarital-birth/.

[9]  Institute for Family Studies, “The Poverty of Single Mothers Is Persistent” by Nicholas Wolfinger and Matthew McKeever, 5/6/25, https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-poverty-of-single-mothers-is-persistent.

[10]  Academia, “Recognition, Poverty and Self-Respect” by Jonathan Seglow, 7/21/20, https://www.academia.edu/67998406/Recognition_Poverty_and_Self_Respect.

[11]  PS 169 Baychester Academy, “How poverty influences social-emotional learning” by “Rick”, 8/26/24, https://baychesteracademy.org/how-poverty-influences-social-emotional-learning/.

[12] Hope 4 Hurting Kids, “Risks of Child Abuse and Neglect Based on Family Structure” (adapted from an article originally published on Divorce Ministry 4 Kids 9/28/11), https://hope4hurtingkids.com/trauma-tragedy/abuse/risks-of-child-abuse-and-neglect-based-on-family-structure/.

[13] Institute for Family Studies, “Kids of Single Parents More Likely to Witness Domestic Violence” by Nicholas Zill, 1/6/15, https://ifstudies.org/blog/children-in-single-parent-families-are-more-likely-to-witness-domestic-violence/.

[14]  Wikipedia, “JD Unwin”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._D._Unwin.

FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com

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August 2, 2026 · 1:00 am

Toxic Inheritance

‘

Photo by Luis Miguel Bugallo Sanchez (PD)

The opioid crisis has had a serious and lasting impact on our children.  That includes emotional trauma, disruption of family structure, and increased risk of substance abuse [1A][2A].  It is a toxic inheritance.

Emotional Trauma

Children often suffer grave neglect as the result of parental addiction.  Emotionally, they experience overwhelming anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy.  Their lives are filled with uncertainty and fear.  This has ongoing ramifications for them [3A].

Family Disruption

“The opioid crisis significantly contributes to family instability.  As parents grapple with addiction, many lose custody of their children or become incapable of providing stable homes [1B].”

Between 2011 and 2021, some 321,566 children lost a parent to a drug overdose [2B].

Children will often wind up living with relatives or going into foster care as the result of ongoing parental addiction [4].  Addiction is particularly devastating in single parent households which are already vulnerable.

The economic burden of addiction destroys family finances.  Even if willing to assume custody, grandparents may have limited resources. and insufficient energy to raise young children.

Meanwhile, the foster care system is overburdened.  Caseworkers are overloaded, so screening and monitoring are inadequate, sometimes with tragic results.

Addiction Risk

Children of addicts are at higher risk of substance abuse, themselves, perpetuating the cycle of addiction [1C][3B].

Better Lives

Sadly, the opioid crisis is far from over [5].  Our children need more than this.

Policies aimed at strengthening families and providing resources for recovery are essential to breaking the cycle of addiction [1D][3C].

Programs which take a holistic approach, providing substance abuse treatment along with mental health support, can aid families in dealing with this challenging problem and enable children to have better lives [1E].

—

[1A through 1E]  Mothers Against Addiction, “Opioid Crisis Devastates Families While Hope Emerges”, 2/12/25, https://www.mothersagainstaddiction.org/opioid-crisis/.

[2A and 2B]  Sojourner House, “The Hidden Impact of the Opioid Crisis:  Children Left Behind”, https://www.sojournerhousepa.org/the-hidden-impact-of-the-opioid-crisis-children-left-behind/.

[3A, 3B, and 3C]  National Child Trauma Stress Network (NCTSN), “Child Trauma and Opioid Use:  Policy Implications”, https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/child_trauma_and_opioid_use_policy_implications.pdf.

[4]  Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science, “The Opioid Epidemic and Children’s Living Arrangements in the United States 2000-2018” by Monica Caudillo et al,  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00027162221142648.

[5]  Health Affairs, “Insights about the Opioid Crisis” by D. Metz et al, September 2025, https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01002.

A study of 600 teens found that those who perceived their parents distracted by cell phone use experienced reduced emotional connection, higher anxiety, and a more insecure attachment style.

For more information, see https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2026/06/18/teenagers-whose-parents-are-more-distracted-by-phones-are-more-insecure-frontiers-psychology.

FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com

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November 2, 2025 · 1:00 am

Tiger Widows

File:THE CLOSE-UP.jpg

Tiger hiding in Bandavgarh National Park, India, Author Amitban77 (Creative Commons Atribution 4.0 International)

“…The Sundarbans [is] a vast mangrove forest straddling the border of India and Bangladesh…

In the coastal villages of the Sundarbans, many women have lost their husbands to tiger attacks.  These men — fishermen, honey collectors, and woodcutters — venture into the forest’s treacherous depths to earn a living.  When they don’t return, their wives are left to face not only grief but also a cruel and unjust blame.  They are branded as Apia (inauspicious) or even “husband-eaters.”

Branded as Cursed:  A Life of Blame and Ostracism

Superstition dictates that when a man enters the forest, his wife must observe strict rituals and vows for his safety.  However, if her husband falls prey to a tiger, the community immediately presumes that the wife must have failed in her duties or is inherently unlucky.  The responsibility for his death is placed squarely on her shoulders.

This social condemnation is just the beginning.  The women, now known as tiger widows, face severe ostracism.

  • Villagers may stop interacting with them.
  • They are refused work in agricultural fields or community fishing.
  • They are barred from attending social and religious ceremonies.

Forced into isolation, these women must raise their children alone, often in a separate hut on the outskirts of the village.  Crippled by poverty, many are forced to pull their children from school and send them to cities to work as child laborers. Worse still, their vulnerability is often exploited, and if a tiger widow is sexually assaulted, the finger of blame is, yet again, pointed at her…”  [Continued at:  https://shobdoneerin.com/2025/09/04/sundarbans-tiger-widows-blamed-for-the-kill-shunned-by-society/comment-page-1/?unapproved=79&moderation-hash=3fc82dcecf5c5cbb795093646fb5cb61#comment-79 ]

This post is courtesy of Samiran Mandal who blogs at https://shobdoneerin.com.

The Franciscan Sisters have returned land to the Lac du Flambeau tribe in an effort to repair the painful Native American boarding school legacy.  This is the first time a Catholic institution has returned Wisconsin tribal land as an act of reparation.

See, https://waow.com/news/top-stories/a-historic-first-catholic-institution-returns-tribal-land-back-to-lac-du-flambeau-tribe/article_0f59e30d-b3cb-4381-becd-959559d2ef3a.html.

FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com

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September 7, 2025 · 1:00 am

Looksmaxxing

Individual dressed as character Kratos from PlayStation video game “God of War”, Source https://www.flickr.com, Author Mooshuu, (CC BY-SA 2.0 Generic)

Children imitate the adults around them.  It appears that young boys are now becoming as vain and shallow as we have taught young girls to be.

Since far too many are being brought up by the action heroes in films, the player characters in video games, and the “hypermasculine” influencers online instead of parents, boys are now falling prey to a trend called “looksmaxxing” which emphasizes idealized — often unrealistic — male looks [1][2].  Boys who cannot achieve the desired appearance are subject to derision and bullying by peers, depression, and even suicide.

Do we need more evidence that we have abandoned our children?  Or is the problem that we lead such empty and self-absorbed lives, ourselves, we cannot tell the difference?

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[1]  Wikipedia, “Looksmaxxing”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looksmaxxing.

[2]   Parents Magazine, “Why ‘Looksmaxxing’ Is Putting Teen Boys at Risk” by Ashleigh DeLuca, 6/24/25, https://www.parents.com/why-looksmaxxing-is-putting-teen-boys-at-risk-11756133.

FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com

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January 28, 2024 · 1:00 am

Enslaved 2024 – Part 3

File:Human Trafficking.jpg

Human Trafficking, concept image by Tapas Kumar Halder, Author Tapas Kumar Halder, (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)

We conclude our discussion of the blight of human trafficking with suggestions as to how the public can prevent and respond to this profound evil [1].

What You Can Do

Concerned as they may be, most people are overwhelmed by the magnitude of human trafficking — at a loss for how they can make a difference.  But there are things the average person can do [2]:

  • Become educated about human trafficking, and stay alert to the situations people may be experiencing.
  • Share information about human trafficking with family, friends, neighbors, business associates, and fellow bloggers.
  • Support local anti-trafficking organizations, either financially or by volunteering.  Pro bono attorneys are especially needed.  An online directory of community organizations is available here:  https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/find-local-services.
  • Buy with care.  Consider where (and by whom) food, clothing, jewelry, electronics, and other items were produced.  An extensive list of items made by forced labor or child labor can be found here:  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods.
  • Get help for a family member, co-worker, student, tenant, patient, or someone else in need.  The National Human Trafficking Hotline https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/contact provides free confidential support, 24/7.  Call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE).
  • Partner with the schools, healthcare providers, and other institutions and professionals serving those experiencing human trafficking.  Together with them, craft student safety programs for children at risk, fair workplace protocols, and ethical procurement practices at places of employment.  Work for safe and affordable housing, and accessible healthcare.
  • Speak out.  Inquire what elected representatives are doing about human trafficking.  Urge that trafficking be made a priority.

Continue reading →

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October 15, 2023 · 1:00 am

Murdered Children and the Indian Child Welfare Act

File:Carlisle pupils.jpg

Pupils at Carlisle Native Industrial School, Pennsylvania (PD)

WARNING:  Graphic Images

From 1869 to the 1960s, hundreds of thousands of Native American children were removed from their parents and placed at boarding schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs [1][2].

There the children were forbidden to use their tribal names, speak their tribal languages, wear their tribal clothing, or practice their tribal religions.  Discipline was generally harsh.  Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse were not unknown.

Though perhaps well intentioned, this cultural genocide (now termed ethnocide) was inexcusable [3][4A].  The trauma to these children was incalculable [4B].

Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was created as a reaction to such forced assimilation [5][6A][9A].  The purpose of the ICWA was to protect the cultural identity and heritage of Indian tribes [9B].

The ICWA mandates that the state pursue the best interests of the tribe, rather than that of the individual child, in cases of abuse.  Officials must place an abused or neglected child with race-matched foster and adoptive families [6B].

Published guidelines by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in fact, indicate that child welfare officials should not consider the best interests of the child in placement – irrespective of poverty, substance abuse, or other “non-conforming social behavior” such as crime in the home [9C].

For any child living on a reservation, the tribe has exclusive jurisdiction of child welfare cases [9D]. Continue reading →

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September 3, 2023 · 1:00 am

A Dumpster and the Value of Life

File:Olivia-Rae balloon release debris - 2018-08-28 - Andy Mabbett - 04.jpgBalloon release, Author Andy Mabbett (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)

WARNING:  Graphic Images

The body of a 12 y.o. boy was found this week in a dumpster in West Philadelphia — a destitute and poverty stricken corner of the City of Brotherly Love [1A].

The boy, Hezekiah “Hezzy” Bernard, had been shot in the head.  His body was wrapped in plastic before being discarded with the trash, at a public housing complex.  The death has been formally ruled a homicide.

“He lit up a room. He was always dancing…He was teachable, he wanted to be mentored and he was joining our new job training program.”

–Pastor Aaron Campbell of LevelUp, a Christian non-profit which serves Philadelphia’s disadvantaged youth [1B][2]

Hundreds in the community gathered for a balloon release to honor the young boy.  But he was never reported missing by family or friends, and the challenge for police will be to identify his killer.

Witness cooperation with law enforcement investigations is notoriously difficult to obtain in Philadelphia.   This stems from a combination of misplaced loyalty, police distrust, and the constant fear of retribution.

Was this boy, himself, the witness to a crime?  Was he shot to punish some family member?  Was he a victim of mistaken identity?   Was his death pay-back for some imagined slight to a stranger?  Was he simply at the wrong place, at the wrong time — collateral damage in yet another unreported shooting?

Life is cheap in what these days is politely called the “inner city”.  Children are murdered and left in dumpsters.

But this is not how God sees it.

“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor” (Prov. 21: 21).

God is the source of all life.  Through Him we can have life, now and in eternity.  That is our comfort in affliction (Ps. 119: 50).

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[1A and 1B]  Philadelphia Inquirer, “The body of a 12-year-old boy was found in a dumpster in West Philadelphia, police say” by Ellie Rushing and Chris Palmer, 8/31/23, https://www.inquirer.com/crime/hezekiah-bernard-body-found-dumpster-west-philadelphia-20230831.html.

[2]  LevelUp, https://levelupphilly.org/.

A second 12 y.o. boy, Jaylen Richards, was shot Saturday night in Baltimore, MD.   Whether he was the intended target is unknown.  He died in Shock Trauma, after unsuccessful attempts to save him.

See, https://www.wbaltv.com/article/maisel-court-shooting-baltimore/43609191#.

FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com

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June 11, 2023 · 1:00 am

The Dirty Dozen

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8c/Dirty_moviep.jpg

Poster for The Dirty Dozen, Source http://www.movieposter.com 

The Dirty Dozen is a classic war film from the 1960s starring Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, and Telly Savales [1].  In the film, a dozen military prisoners are selected for a dangerous mission against the Nazis.

Unfortunately, those who target children for purposes of sexual exploitation are equally sinister adversaries.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has released its own Dirty Dozen List for 2023 https://endsexualexploitation.org/dirtydozenlist-2023/ .  This is a list of corporations which facilitate, enable, or profit from policies which put children at risk.

Often these corporation provide the tech platforms we use daily.  Unfortunately, they can make children targets in their own homes by allowing strangers easy access for grooming and sexual abuse.

This year the Dirty Dozen List includes eBay and Apple’s App Store; the social media sites Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Reddit, and Kik; the popular music site Spotify; and the video game sites Roblox and Discord.

The goal is to motivate these companies to improve their practices.  That approach has, in the past, been successful with Amazon, Walmart, Verizon, and United Airlines.

The burden is on consumers to make their concerns known.

—

[1]  IMDb, “The Dirty Dozen (1967)”, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061578/.

FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT:  https://alawyersprayers.com

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