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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > March > 12 > Entry
Commission support for traditional marriage preference split; CCV chimes in
There is a three-way split among Butler County commissioners on support of a new policy that gives preference in foster and adoption proceedings to traditional married couples.
The headcount:
- Commissioner Gregory Jolivette: Supports policy (contrary to other media reports)
- Commissioner Charles Furmon: Opposes policy
- Commission President Donald Dixon: Said he needs more information
The below “action alert” from Citizens for Community Values hopes to tip this scale:
Butler County’s common-sense adoption policy is under attack!
Will commissioners do the right thing, or the “politically correct” thing?  Butler County Commissioners appear to be yielding to pressure to ignore both common sense and social science data, and change the county’s adoption policy in a way that will be detrimental to the best interests of children placed for adoption. Click the link below to ask them not to yield to liberal political correctness.  “It appears that Commissioners Chuck Furman and Greg Jolivette do not understand the advantage of an intact married family over a same-sex couple or any other arrangement when it comes to adoption. As a resident of Butler County I am extremely disappointed in these two elected officials.” Phil Burress, President, Citizens for Community Values  (Editor’s note - again, Jolivette does not oppose the policy. He said today he supports it as long as the county prosecutor deems it legal. Now back to the press release)
It is a truth confirmed by decades of social science data: The optimal environment for raising children is an intact married family. In every measured category, children raised in a family headed by both a loving father and mother fare better than those raised in any other environment. Their physical, mental, and emotional health is superior.
Given that universally recognized truth, common sense dictates that when placing children for adoption or foster care, the first option should be an intact married family.
Clearly, there are numerous examples of children raised successfully in something other than an intact married family. Many single parents, through hard work and with the support of loving friends and relatives, raise children who reach their full potential and become productive, well-adjusted members of society.
But ask any single mom how well she is able to replace the unique contribution of a loving father. Or ask any single dad how well he is able to replace the role of a loving mother. Can it be done? Sure it can in some circumstances. Is it harder? Of course it is. And it’s the exception, not the rule.
It’s common sense! An intact married family is always the best option!
But in the politically correct, liberal media world, common sense and social science don’t count — if they interfere with their anti-family agenda. What is in the best interest of children doesn’t count either.
CREATING CONTROVERSY OR COMMON SENSE?
When the common-sense adoption policy of the Butler County Children Services recently was made public, the ACLU, homosexual activists, and some in the media attacked that agency and its director, Michael Fox.
Here’s what the agency’s policy says:
“Butler County Children Services strongly supports adoption. The purpose of adoption is not to provide children for adults who want them, but to provide for children, families that give them the experience of intact married family life as much as possible. Notwithstanding this, Butler County Children Services recognizes that we do not have a sufficient number of adoptive families, and anyone who meets the state criteria is welcomed and encouraged to become an adoptive parent.”
“This is a summary of the county’s preferences for the adoption matching process, in order of preference: (1) relatives of the child, or someone who the birth mother designates as a potential adoptive parent for her child; (2) married couples; (3) foster parents; (4) other suitable adoptive parents.”
In other words, Butler County Children Services simply is saying that whenever possible, they’ll do what is best for the children. They’ll place them in a family environment where research shows that they’ll have the highest probability of success.
What’s best for the children clearly is not the concern of the ACLU and homosexual activists. They accused Fox of violating the “rights” of same-sex couples and single parents. Such lack of concern for the children is true to character for the ACLU and the activists whom they represent.
TAKE ACTION — for the sake of the children!
Sadly, at least two of Butler County’s three commissioners immediately caved into pressure from such sources.
Said Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Furmon, “It’s [this policy’s]not proper and, obviously, we don’t agree with it.”
And Commissioner Greg Jolivette said that there are too many other concerns to focus on something like an adoptive parent’s marital status or sexual preference.
How many children would the commissioners offer up on the altar of political correctness?
Please click the link below to ask all three Butler County Commissioners, County Administrator Tim Williams, and County Prosecutor Robin Piper to support Director Michael Fox in retaining an adoption policy that focuses on the best interests of children.
Click the link below to log in and send your message.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Children Services
Comments
By J vaughn
March 12, 2009 10:30 PM | Link to this
And for hundreds of years scientists said the Earth was flat, too. Keep that bag over your head and it will be easier to remain in the 16th century.
By Larry
March 13, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this
Donnie has to wait and ask Betty what to do? Pillow Talk tonight.
By Hank
March 13, 2009 10:39 PM | Link to this
From what I read, Jolly doesn’t know what his position is on this and that is pretty much how Jolly always is. Once Dixon makes up his mind Jolly will fall right in line with him.
By Hamilton Kid
March 15, 2009 12:37 AM | Link to this
I’m not sure if common sense would work in Butler County… It would be uncommon
By Mike
March 15, 2009 11:37 AM | Link to this
What is the matter with people? A Dad and Mom is the best and only Family. No if’s and’s or but’s about it! No wonder this country and county are going down the tubes. Read your Bible, there is where you’ll find your answers. Politically correct is a cowards way of avoiding standing up for this country’s founding values.
By Savanation
March 15, 2009 10:57 PM | Link to this
In a recent newspaper article, Mr. Michael Fox seems to place his view of what is right and wrong over what should be paramount, the needs of the child. Mr. Fox says his agency wanted to create a clear policy which reflects the beliefs of most people who live in Butler County. He goes on the say that “In San Francisco they may have a different approach to this issue. But in Butler County,Ohio, I think our community honors and respects the institution of marriage.” I have to wonder just which part of the institution of marriage Mr. Fox thinks that San Franciscans do not honor or respect. Is there a major problem in San Francisco with children being placed in rotten homes and being beaten daily? Nor do I understand what placing a child in need of love and attention with a loving couple, straight or gay, or qualified single person, has to do with what beliefs Mr. Fox ascribes to the people of Butler County. It is Mr. Fox’s desire that if Butler County is solidly in the Rush Limbaugh belief system then only Dittoheads should be able to adopt? Mr. Fox’s rule states that when all other things are equal, married couples would be given the advantage. Just who determines what other things are equal? Couple “A” are nice people, male and female, married, just getting by financially, love children, High School educated, live in a nice home in a mediocre school system. Couple “B” are nice people, two women, would love to be married but can’t, very well off financially, love children, both with Master’s degrees, live in a very nice home in the best school district around. I wonder if Mr. Fox, ignoring the phrase “two women, would love to be married but can’t”,would say that all other things are equal? With which couple would Mr. Fox, using the “beliefs of most people who live in Butler County”, place the child who is yearning to be loved and cared for? Which couple is really in the best interest of the child? And which couple would get the child because they are what Mr.Fox personally deems to be correct in a Butler County way? Mr. Fox it might be a good idea to put the “beliefs of most people of Butler County”(strangely, they voted for Bush, twice) further back in your mind and put the best interests of the child first. It is possible to determine which things are most equal as long as you don’t go into the decision making process with preconceived narrow minded views. It is always fascinating to me that those who so pompously support “traditional marriage” think that the “traditional” couple who have the police at their door every three weeks for domestic trouble are “married” but the loving,caring gay couple down the street are unworthy of being “married”. There are so many children out there who would love to have a happy home. And children being born who don’t know what a happy home is yet but they will yearn for it later. I don’t think they need Mr. Fox to find obstacles to keep them from that home.
By Jerry
March 16, 2009 12:26 AM | Link to this
Mr. Fox should take to Mr. Dixon about the importance of traditional marriage and the values of Butler County.
By joe
March 18, 2009 9:03 PM | Link to this
Jerry, Jerry, holier than thou Jerry. You are one of those that cast stones while living in your glass house. Shame on you Jerry!
By Bookman
March 19, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this
I live in Butler County and work in Cincinnati. We are the huge joke in southwestern Ohio. We have our commisioners to thank for that. Donny doesn’t make a decision unless the Sheriff and his girlfriend at the board of elections agree with it. Poor Jolly is strung up as Don’s little marionette. Let’s face it for his own sake Furman is just not going to disagree with the other two. The decisions these three are making are really hurting the county. I ask all of you to call the commisioners office and ask why that in a time when we are facing many economic problems they would get rid of the economic developement office. That puts the “duh” in Butler County.