Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia
religion/inlaws
What are my rights in preventing my inlaws from exposing my children to a religion/cult that I do not approve of? They give them religious gifts that I have asked them not to. I am afraid when I am not around they will say what I deem as inappropriate things to my children.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: religion/inlaws
So,you would like the courts or law enforcement authorities of the Commonwealth of Virginia to do exactly what with respect to these relatives of yours----in order to prevent them from exercising their legitimate First Amendment rights regarding freedom of religious expression which is guaranteed under our Federal Constitution? Or, perhaps, you've forgotten about this guarantee in your apparent concern for your "rights" (whatever those might be)?
Re: religion/inlaws
The real answer is you didn't do your homework before you married. Your in-laws were either like that to begin with and you bought into it, or if they became that during your marriage, they at least were that kind of people who would turn fundementalist, and you bought into that.
The easier answer is that if your wife exposes the children to her parents, there is nothing you can do. The best you can do is to instruct your children to be polite, but that your family's beliefs are different. The struggle is between you and your wife. You can forbid her parents to have contact. They may hire a lawyer and challenge you in court. The deciding factor is your wife. If she allows it thats the end of the story. They're hers too and the religion issue is one between the two of you.
Good luck.