im in a legal battle with my parents. im 14 and i dont think my parents should be able to force me to go to church since i have the right to freedom of religion. they say if i dont go to church i dont live under their roof. so can they legally kick me out of their house with out giving up my custody to the government or something?
217062
In short, no.  Your parents are still legally responsible for you and if they kick you out on the street, they can be charged criminally with endangering the welfare of a minor, or however it's defined in your state.  My guess is that they are just trying to scare you into continuing to go to church in hopes that you will remain a believer in God.  I'm not going to tell you how to believe or worship, I'm just telling you the law.
352309
Employment law makes it illegal to force your employees into religious observance. So, if you are required to be there, then they are breaking federal law, regardless of whether this is a school or another work place. I would suggest to the principal that if he wants to have a private religious gathering for staff on a voluntary basis, he does so at some other location or time.
471036
Don't be silly......They may not agree with your religion, but they would never ban religion.......Its protected by the constitution....
497544
The US Supreme court and virtually every lower court have all consistently ruled that prayer in public school is unconstitutional.\n\nWho's forcing your kids to pray?  Report 'em, they're breaking the law!\n\nFYI, when they say the pledge of allegiance at school, my kids skip the "under god" part, which wasn't added until 1950's anyway as a reactionary measure to "godless communists" during the red scare...:)\n\nPeace.
142190
If you are not emancipated then the cops can haul your *** back to your parents at any time…\n\nAnd if you are not your parents have to enroll you in school…
612760
Probably.  But what is wrong with that?\n\nAren't parents limiting their child's freedom by:\n\n1)  Telling them stealing is bad\n2)  Teaching them to share\n3)  Teaching them not to lie  etc...\n\nUltimately, it is the parent's right to mold their childrens opinions and behaviors unless it is abusive and harmful.\n\nBy the way, the freedom of religion that we enjoy is freedom from the government abridging religion, not freedom from brainwashing, proseltyzing, lecturing, etc... by individuals and private parties.
340397
That all depends on what state you are in.  In Texas at 17, your parents can no longer tell you where to live.  Talk to a lawyer in your state to learn exactly what you would have to do.
302407
Obviously it doesn't block everything or you couldn't get here.  I'm assuming that you don't pay for anything like the PC, the internet access or rent to stay in your parents' home.  Until you do, you have to go by their rules, sorry to say.
51311
Generally, a minor cannot legally live on her own without her parents' permission.  In rare cases a minor may be emancipated by a family court judge.  This is usually only done for persons in their late teens (16-17) who have completed school and are financially indpendent.  The intention is to allow teenagers who are capable of living indpendently the ability to make their own legal and medical decisions, and protect them financially.  It must also be demonstrated that it is not in the best interest of the minor to remain a dependent of her parents until she is 18.  An emancipated minor is for the most part legally treated as an adult, and would be free to move out of state without her parents consent.
587578
if you are 16 you can take it to court and either move for termination of parental rights or you can do something easier and just file with the courts for emancipation. or you could just disobey and move in with him anyhow if his parents will let you. how old is he by the way. actually here is my husbands email address just email him before 5pm and he can respond before then. he is a paralegal with family court just tell him lisa sent you to ask him that question. nblutreich@jmdlaw.com or call 1-800-247-9870  and ask for nathan and tell him lisa sent you
538450
This is a very good point, and i have actually researched it before.  In the Freedom of Religion amendment, there are two clauses: the establishment clause, and the free excercise clause.  The establishment clause is the separation of church and state, or in other words, the government cannot establish or promote any one relgion.  In the free excercise clause, the government cannot ban any one religion.  Oddly enough, atheism is only considered a religion in the free excercise clause, and not in the establishment clause.  This is a sort of loophole that allows the religion to establish atheism in schools, without going against our rights to freedom of religion.  Pretty messed up, huh?
275813
Go to youthrights.org, they have all sorts of stuff on this sort of thing.  It's ridiculous the way kids are treated in school, but it can't go on forever--pretty soon, they'll get so outrageous that people will take notice.\n\nAnd, alexa2829, kids DO have rights.  How would you like it if you were told that you have no rights, not even to the basic necessities of life, just because of your age?  If a parent withholds the rights to eat, drink, sleep, or go to the bathroom, they could be charged with child abuse, but from teachers it's expected.  You make me sick.
663643
i think you're a little misinformed. the law just states that they cant make anyone pray, and as a public school (run by the government) they cant belong to any specific denomintation. you can pray all you want and nobody can stop you. \n\nthat way they cant force you to do anything against your beliefs. imagine if your teacher was jewish and made you say jewish prayers in class. well, thats wrong. but for years teachers (mostly christians, the majority religion in the US) lead classes in prayer sessions, and taught things according to their own religious beliefs. but thats not fair to students that are jewish, muslim, atheists, agnostics, taoists, buddhist, etc. thats why they made the law. but, thats not stopping you from praying. you can pray all you like and nobody can stop you, as long as you're still doing your school work, and you're not forcing others to pray with you.\n\nso, the best thing for you to do might be to create an afterschool prayer group. as long as its not during school hours, i bet that you could organize a group of other students with similar beliefs and meet maybe once a week or something, say some prayers, talk about your views, help each other with any issues you want to share, etc. the idea of having it led by a student is a good idea. you could probably do it in the school library or something. good luck!
585073
The Bible does say 'Honor your father and your mother.' It also says 'Obey your parents in the Lord - for this is right,' and even 'Obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.'\n\nHowever, it also says we must listen to God more than man. This does mean that if you are planning to disobey your parents (particularly if you are still under their roof), you must have a very good reason, preferably one straight from Scripture. And that means you need to know your Scripture, know exactly why you believe being with him is the right thing, why it would be wrong to discount him. And if you are still living under their roof, and you attend a church or other place of worship, you should probably consult with the pastor or other leader before you do anything.\n\nBut I absolutely agree that before you even do that, you need to get your parents' side of the story. And you need to listen without judging them in any way. Just to find out their opinion in detail. No arguments afterwards, just 'Thanks for sharing that with me.' If you don't do that, you will have a much bigger problem than whether to see this boy.\n\nDepending on your age, it may turn out that the problem has nothing to do with him at all, and plenty to do with a perception on your parents' part that you are not ready for a serious relationship. They may believe that you should not be 'serious' with someone until you are ready to be married.\n\nQuite frankly, if you aren't ready for a permanent relationship yet, I agree. You should stay just friends. Be faithful to each other, if that's how God is leading you, but keep it platonic and see what happens later when you are ready for something permanent.\n\nAnd yes, that something permanent does involve 'leaving father and mother.' But that does not mean 'leaving mother and father when it's convenient for me, and running to them and expecting them to provide for me when that's more convenient.' But once that moment comes, then, yeah, your husband absolutely does take priority over your parents.
111024
Well let me ask you, do you still live at home??? If so it IS their rules still. Sure you may be 18 now but like I would tell my children, "As long as you live in my house, it's MY rules". now as far as being able to do what you want and you not thinking that they let you do a lot let me say this to you, Try bringing this up at dinner, explain to them that you feel like they aren't giving you enough "distance" to do some of the things you would like to do. And ask them if they will slowly give you a chance to prove to them that you are responsible and you CAN make your own decisions on things. And explain to them that if you do anything to lose their trust then you will go back to how the situation is right now... Hope this has helped out some... let me know what happens ok... take care!!!
153227
Yes, he can get in trouble. Depending on the Age of Consent in your state, which I believe it is 18, and with him being 25, you are a minor. You would need to Emancipate yourself to move out. Not sure what you would need to do, but if it is something like abuse, you need to talk to a school councilor. \nIf it is because your Mother will not let you see this guy, then I am afraid there might not be much you can do...
388620
Your parents have legal control until you go to court and become legally immancipated.  A court may not allow it, because you are not self-supporting and are not legally married to your boyfriend.  \n\nEither he steps up to be a man and marries you, you get a job and support that baby.... or you go home to your parents.\n\nYou need to consider all of the ramifications if your boyfriend dumps you, Honey.  It happens all the time!\n\nBest Wishes,\nSue