Losing Your Religion

Kids lose when dads and moms feel so strongly and differently about religion — or are just so angry with each other — that they can't find a place for agreement.

So, it is that eighth-grader Michael Ryan will be Exhibit A in court over whether his atheist father or strict Catholic mom will hold sway over whether or not he attends Louisville's St. Xavier High.

And after having lived two-and-a-half years with his mother in an ultraorthodox Jewish community in Israel, an eight year is on his way back to Belgium to live with dad because, mom ... like ...well, she sort of ... the facts as decided by the Israeli Supreme Court are that she stole him and has been ordered to give him back to his Christian father. Vincent Georis did invite his wife to be a part of their son's life; we'll see how that works out.

But agreeing on religion may not be best for the child either. Although it must always be problematic if you and your wife have given birth to a god. Indian farmer Vinod and wife Sushma Sing have been blessed with their first child, two-faced (no, really) daughter Lali Their problem (Lali's dilemma) is whether or not to impose modern medicine on a child being celebrated as a deity. If it turns out she is mortal, her condition is associated with a host of medical issues. But what should a father decide if his child might not just be his little angel but, in fact, an actual god?

** Pray for the wisdom and strength of all fathers. **