Contents of this webpageEvents bring to topNews Coverage bring to top EventsSep. 26, 2008Ask U.S. Diocese apply canon law to protect families and chilren from forced no-fault divorce. We are bringing to you information about a scandalous pubic offense where children have been forcibly separated from their father. We implore you to get involved and "enquire about the facts and circumstances, and about the imputability of the offense" (canon. 1717). [The Wife], a professed Catholic mother of eight children sought and obtained an no-fault divorce. Read Letter and Join Plea, or stories Catholic Online, or Spero News June 24, 2008, Join us in Asking U.S. Diocese "Why do you only help people file for annulments?" While the Vatican's Council for Justice and Peace just held a conference offering guidelines for politics from a Christian perspective, an advocacy group in the U.S. is asking the church to apply its own laws ensuring justice amongst the faithful. ... Tribunals across the country readily assist those who want the annulment Canons applied to their marriage. Mary's Advocates ask, "Where is such help for those seeking Separation of Spouses determinations?" .... JOIN PLEA, or read story on Catholic Online PR Wire April 15, 2008, Join us in Demanding an Investigation of Ohio Divorce Lawyers On tax-day Ohio residents are asking for an investigation of the divorce attorneys who waste tax dollars for their own personal profit. Bai Macfarlane, the organizer of the call for investigation says, "Court-appointed lawyers don't follow Ohio law. They don't tell faithful spouses that the spouse forcing divorce is responsible for the full contribution to the family home. ... See Plea to Judges and Join or See Newswire Story January 25, 2008, Advocates ask Arligton Diocese to apply Canon Law Concurrent with Vatican Congress on Canon Law Marriage Advocates ask Arlington Diocese to Apply Canon Law in Scandalous Divorce ...and better protect families from routine divorce. See letter to Diocese, Catholic Online Story, and Spero News Commentary September 17, 2007, Michael Medved welcomes introduction Michael Medved received from me a media, pre-release, copy of the book, "Taken Into Custody: The War Against Fathers, Marriage, and the Family" by Stephen Baskerville, PhD. See Story October 15, 2006, Outreach to hundreds of engaged people Reaching Brides at their own Trade-show. We Took Advantage of Great Educational Opportunity See Story August 16, 2006, OH Supreme Court Appeal. Forcing no-fault Divorce Option on Every Marriage is Unconstitutional. See Chronology March 19, 2006 Cleveland OH Law Professor, Stephen Safranek, Pre-Register. Seating is limited. Walk-Ins welcome more info |
News Coverage
The Unconstitutionality of No-Fault Marriage -- Why Family Day is Needed September 26, 2007 (American Chronicle)While President Bush calls on the nation to honor traditional families, Marie MacFarlane, founder of Mary's Advocates fights for her children. ... No fault marriage may be law, but when it negates free exercise of religious beliefs, negates nuptial contract agreements whether based on church rules or not, and negates relational responsibilities such as paying alimony, then no-fault marriage law must be regarded as unconstitutional and illegal. (or see authors blog)
Ohio Supreme Court receives Church/State challenge Sept. 13, 2007 (Spero News)
An Ohio activist asked for the intervention of the Ohio Supreme Court in her child support case. A Cuyahoga County magistrate had prohibited the admission of Catholic teachings on divorce as evidence, citing the US and Ohio constitutions.
Happiness of children linked to families August 30, 2007 (Spero News)
An MTV/AP poll show that spending time with family is a top reason for teenagers' happiness. An Ohio father believes courts cause his son's unhappiness through no-fault divorce.
Catholic bishops get report contrary to teachings July 24, 2007 (Spero News)
The report given to the US Conference of Catholic Report is is opposed to official teachings on the "goods" of marriage. Catholic teachings emphasize notions of sacrificial love and permanence.
Innocent wives protest unjust divorce, seek Vatican Help June 22, 2007 (Spero News)
Like Sheila Rauch Kennedy, Bai McFarlane has appealed to the Vatican and is challenging a US Catholic tribunal's failure to uphold marriage. McFarlane is asking the Church to uphold its own law about separation and divorce. ... Bai Macfarlane of Cleveland, Ohio, ... has a case pending at the Roman Rota in which she is seeking the intervention of the Vatican and challenging a US Catholic Tribunal's failure to uphold marriage, (Or see condensed story from EWTN or full story Catholic Online PR Wire)
Massachusetts' Diocese Newspaper promotes the signing of True Marriage Agreements Feb 12, 2007(Catholic Online )
... They're in touch with others in a growing national grassroots movement to reform no-fault divorce and rescue marriage from being "optional, disposable, and redefinable." The True Marriage Project of Safranak's public interest law firm represents people who want their religious vows legally protected, ... (Or see condensed story from Catholic News Agency or EWTN) (full story Catholic Citizens of Illinois)
Campos: A contract called marriage Oct. 31, 2006 (Rocky Mountain News)
University of Colorado Law Professor, Paul Campos... it is merely the standard way in which we treat most business contracts. A friend of mine, law professor Stephen Safranek, is currently making this argument in an Ohio lawsuit involving a divorcing Catholic couple. As Safranek points out, federal law requires that when a business contract lays out a process for arbitrating disputes that arise about the contract's meaning or enforcement, that process must be honored by the courts ...
Ohio Supreme Court Challenge; Forcing No-fault Unconstitutional Aug. 19, 2006 (Catholic Online PRWire)
Couples are not warned when they get their marriage license that the county assumes they embrace the state's minimal definition of marriage. This definition includes the inability to prevent the state's no-fault divorce routine regardless of the couple's intentions, ...
Law Professor Argues No Fault Divorce Unconstitutional May 23, 2006
Constitutional law professor, Stephen Safranek is arguing in the 8th district court of appeals that forcing routine no-fault divorce on a Christian wife and children is unconstitutional. With his "True Marriage Project," a work of his public interest law firm, Safranek asserts, "promises made by the couple, to be married in accordance with the laws of their Catholic Church, can not be ignored by the civil courts."
Valentine's Day and Constitutional Challenge of No-fault Divorce Feb 2006 Dakota Voice
and Reagan Wing For millions of people, Valentine's day is a gut-wrenching reminder of the intact family they once had, which was ripped from them by no-fault divorce. By next Valentine's day in Ohio, loyal spouses and children whose parents were married in their church might be protected from no- fault divorce.
Legal appeal challenges civil no-fault divorce unconstitutional Jan. 20, 2006 (CNA)
North Country Gazette
An Ohio mother ... arguing her religious beliefs and free speech were used against her in the proceedings. ... The civil divorce court refused to allow a third party arbitrator, the ecclesiastic authority of the Roman Catholic Church, to determine separation procedures ...
Let Freedom Reign - Separation of Church and State Jan 2006.
Our lead attorney, constitutional law professor, Stephen Safranek, replies to confused opinion regarding separation of church and state.
Catholics and 'no-fault' divorce Dec 8, 2005. Renew America & The Wanderer
The role of the "Catholic" in a Catholic family will play out in Ohio courts this winter in the controversial divorce case of MacFarlane v. MacFarlane, ... Although she [Mrs. Macfarlane] is on trial, so to are the courts of Ohio.
The Slow Martyrdom of Mrs. Macfarlane Nov 2005. Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute also Catholic Exchange
... although it is manifestly obvious even to a four-year-old when one spouse is the perpetrator and the other the victim, the state demands that the adults lie to the children. Catholic Exchange, (reprint)
Woman Who Set Career Path to Motherhood Fights No-Fault Divorce Sep 26, 2005
Educated women who choose to be stay-at-home moms need to consider the threat no-fault divorce poses to their plans. Ohio resident Marie Macfarlane, a University of Notre Dame Mechanical Engineer ...
Ohio woman battles to reform divorce laws;Aug. 04, 2005 (CNA)
(Catholic World News )
... many Catholics are slighted in proceedings. An Ohio woman filed an appeal this week with a local divorce court in the latest phase of what she sees as a crusade to reform ...
Law professor argues divorce case should be transferred to Church tribunal Feb. 28, 2005. (CNA)
An Ohio woman's fight to save her Catholic marriage from civil no-fault divorce took another important turn when Ave Maria School of Law professor Stephen Safranek submitted an argument to the state court.
Divorce, American Style: An Interview Feb 14, 2005. Godspy.com
Her high-profile Catholic marriage and divorce case has sparked a debate about the injustice of no-fault divorce and the tragedy of marital abandonment.
Canon law case pending at the apostolic tribunal of the Roman Rota Dec. 8, 2004
(CNA) An Ohio woman is waiting to hear from the Catholic Church's international tribunal in Rome whether her husband has a lawful reason, according to the Catholic Code of Canon law, for leaving her and their four children.
Macfarlane vs. No-FaultOct. 10, 2004. (National Catholic Register)
In an attempt to save her marriage and keep her family together, Marie Macfarlane is using Church law and teaching to battle the civil legal system. ... against what she refers to as a "pro-remarriage" movement.
The Other Sex Scandal Sep. 30, 2004. (CNA)
(EWTN )
The U.S. Church is living through another scandal, ... the perpetrators are parents, says Mary (Bai Macfarlane), a mother of four. Although millions of American homes are broken by divorce, the U.S. bishops tend not to speak out against it and canon lawyers seem to defend divorce instead of marriage, she says.
Catholic mother challenges state on 'no fault divorce' Crux News Sep 24, 2004
Couples who marry in the Catholic Church are bound by an antenuptial agreement--it is sometimes called a prenuptial--which includes specific rules about separation and divorce, according to a brief filed by Cleveland attorney Bob Lynch, on behalf of his client, Marie "Bai" Macfarlane.
Focus on the Family, Sep 4, 2004. Family News and Focus Broadcast for Saturday
Radio Broadcast publicized legal argument, which could make case law; those who promise to marry till death, in accordance with Church law, should be exempt from forced no-fault divorce. Print summary Window Media Real Audio [begins at 12 min. 15 sec.]
Forced divorce argued illegal under terms of Catholic antenuptial agreement Aug 23, 2004. (CNA)
Publicized our legal argument. Forced divorce argued illegal under terms of Catholic antenuptial agreement.
Letters to the Editor March 21, 2004. Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Far too many spouses are coerced to divorce. ...spouses who get caught up in the system have lawyers who've already told them there's nothing they can do - "just cooperate or you'll make the judge mad". I invite readers to join me in asking Ohio legislators why they allow the courts to favor the whims of the abandoning spouse over the other spouse and the desires of the children who need an intact home.
Divorce, American Style March 13, 2004. Cleveland Plain Dealer.
What if one mate says no? "...accusing his wife of "extreme cruelty" and "gross neglect of duty" - a brutal legalese that she says cannot describe her marriage. So Marie ... is taking a stand not often seen today: She's fighting to stop the divorce altogether. ... "There is a cultural war going on over values in this society," said Macfarlane's lawyer ... "It's influencing the way some people are looking at divorce court and their rights."
Defending Marriage in Ohio: A Westlake woman's mission, Villager News Jan 2004
Mary has started a web site and is working with an attorney. She questions the Ohio General Assembly on confusion that may exist for the many people who may share her experience.
