I decided to write a letter to the local newspaper that is distributed freely to every house in town and it has been published. Not only published, but is highlighted as the Editor's letter of the week!
I wrote about the plight of grandparents not having any legal right of contact with their grandchildren at the moment and my own particular case. Here is the letter I wrote which was entitled: "The tears I shed for my little angel"
Sir, Many grandparents are being denied contact with their grandchildren through no fault of their own and are powerless to do anything to change the situation.
When marriages end in divorce and families are divided, grandparents can often find themselves facing enforced estrangement fromtheir grandchildren. Whatever the reason that causes the separation, the fact is that grandparents do not, at this time, have any legal right of contact and this causes great pain and heartache.
I have been denied all contact with my only grandchild for the past year. My granddaughter is nearly two years old and my husband and I have been prevented from seeing her by my son and daughter-in-law.
We grew to love her with all our hearts and I used to call her my little angel. I have cried many tears for not being able to show her the love we have for her and for her being denied the right of having the love and support of her grandparents asshe grows up.
My son and daughter-in-law are Jehovah's Witnesses and although I am also a member, I no longer attend their meetings. This is my only "crime" and my punishment is to be shut out of their lives.
I have always loved my son dearly and always will, but I have to be able to make my own decisions with regard to religious matters. Consequently, even though my husband and I have only ever shown them love and kindness we have been ostrasized from their lives and from the life of my granddaughter. We are not allowed to send gifts to her and my son has returned the ones that we had previously given.
We hear much about human rights nowadays, the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religious belief" while Article 20 says: "No one may be compelled to belong to an association".
Unfortunately, the organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses does not respect these basic human liberties. They compel their members to stay within their association by imposing a nearly intolerable cost for resigning their membership. The penalty for leaving is enforced shunning by family members and former friends.
There is increasing hope that in the near future grandparents will be given the right to have contact with their grandchildren as the call for the law to be changed is gaining widespread political support and the voices are getting louder.
Until that time arrives I have a special place in my heart just for my little angel.
I am really hoping that it has a positive impact.
Maddie