Is Dear Abbey going to talk about Parental Alienation ~ Yes on November 3/08

The following is a note from the http://crispe.org/blog/ Posted on October 23rd, 2008 by Semper Fi The Dear Abbey of November 3/08 follows.

Children’s Rights Initiative for Sharing Parents Equally

DR. PHIL AND PARENTAL ALIENATION. 1. DR. PHIL. The Dr. Phil show called CRC. They are seeking a husband and wife, or separated husband and wife, engaged in a custody battle, involving such things as denial of access (visitation) or parental alienation. Both the mother and father would have to agree to appear on the Dr. Phil Show. If you know of any such couples, please get word to CRC asap.

2. PARENTAL ALIENATION. For the first time, we have a definite date from the Dear Abby column as to when the article on parental alienation will appear. It is Monday, November 3. Dear Abby will respond to a person who asks about parental alienation, by criticizing the practice, and by referring her readers in 1,400 newspapers to the Children’s Rights Council, and our website. Some of you may get calls from readers. Between now and Nov. 3 you may wish to contact the local newspaper that carries Dear Abby or other media and offer your own comments or possible interviews with victims of parental alienation.

If you can be on the show please e-mail: crc_sandiego@yahoo.com

November 3/08

today's Dear Abby

MAN PESTERED BY EX-WIFE MUST ACT TO HELP HIS SON

DEAR ABBY: Parental alienation is a topic I have never seen addressed in your column. It is a problem with many divorces involving children. I think my brother is a victim of it. He lives in a different state than his little boy, but pays child support.

Abby, his ex continuously harasses him via text messaging and late-night phone calls, accusing him of things she thinks happened when they were together. You'd think she hasn't moved on, but she has a new husband!

She agreed that my brother could call his son twice a week, but she rarely answers the phone during these scheduled "visits." She is now trying harder to keep my brother out of his son's life. She even told my nephew that the presents my brother sent him for Christmas came from her new husband!

My brother can't afford a lawyer right now, but he is moving to Florida in the near future and I would like to help him resolve this issue. What are your thoughts on parental alienation? -- FRUSTRATED SIS IN FLORIDA

DEAR FRUSTRATED SIS: The kind of anger, selfishness and vindictiveness you have described are unhealthy for everyone involved. Obviously, your former sister-in-law has not moved on. She's still stuck in trying to retaliate against your brother. She's expending the energy and attention she should be devoting to her new marriage and new husband to punishing her last one.

And as for your nephew, when a child grows up believing his father thought he was unimportant and expendable, it can negatively affect his sense of self-worth.

There is an effective resource available to your brother -- the Children's Rights Council (CRC). For many years this organization has worked to prevent children from being victimized by their parents' divorces, something which happens all too often. The CRC has 57 chapters in 37 states, and its Web site is www.crckids.org. Its president, David L. Levy, J.D., is a nationally known expert on children and edited "The Best Parent Is Both Parents" (Hampton Roads Publishing). Please advise your brother to contact this group.