Father jailed for rape gets visitation with children; rape victim is kids’ mother

This is just lovely. A woman who was raped by the father of her kids has been forced to give him visitation rights.

Henry J. Weldy, father of Kim Linetty’s three children, brutally raped Linetty four years ago:

She details the multiple phone calls to police, her screams to neighbors and the swelling sense of dread that something horrible was about to happen to her.

Then Linetty tells of the attack -- how he wrestled her to the ground, punched her in the head, pulled down her pants and raped her, covering her mouth and threatening death during the assault.

In January, a judge ordered that Linetty take her children to Indiana State Prison to visit their rapist father. Using mind-boggling logic, father’s rights activists claim that this is in the best interest of the children.

"You don't deny children the right to see their parents based on issues between the parents," said Mike McCormick, executive director of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children, based in Washington.

"I'm in no way downplaying the seriousness of the fact that he is convicted of raping her, but that consideration is separate and distinct from the issue of the child maintaining a relationship with their father, even in circumstances of incarceration," McCormick said.

Right, calling a brutal rape an “issue between parents” is in no way downplaying it. Are you kidding me?

How can someone argue that being around a violent rapist is in the best interest of children?

Pinko Feminist Hellcat and Trish Wilson have excellent (and comprehensive) posts up on this story; go check them out.
Posted by Jessica at 02:12 PM | in Law , Sexual Assault , Violence Against Women | Comments (20) | TrackBack (0)

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the whole disgusting story. http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps...S01/CAT=News01

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Oh wow that's crazy. What are these people thinking!!!
He gave up all of his rights when he committed an act of violence against the mother!
Thta's so sick in so many ways

I can understand the outrage if you are saying ALL rapists should have parental rights terminated. But absent that, I don't see how who he raped should make a difference, so long as it wasn't a child. I can absolutely see how it would affect the mother, but that's not the standard.

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Sorry I wasn't clear. Rape itself is an act of violence and should terminate all parental rights for the person who commited the crime.

I'm sorry, WTF??? Issues? Is rape an issue now?

This man should NEVER see his kids EVER.

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"Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged." -- Ronald Reagan