Mississippi advocates fear abuse ‘epidemic’ after senate kills divorce bill

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Mississippi advocates fear abuse ‘epidemic’ after senate kills divorce bill

Matthew Teague
Saturday 30 April 2016 12.00 BST

In Mississippi an abused spouse must remain in a violent marriage, according to the state legislature.

A bill that would have made domestic abuse grounds for divorce died in the state senate last week. And the decision shocked victims’ rights advocates around the state.

“We have an epidemic here,” said Lorine Cady, founder of the House of Grace, a center for victims in Southaven. “I think domestic abuse should be at the very top of the list of reasons for divorce.”

It’s a decision that will affect thousands of spouses across the state, both men and women. One in three women, and one in four men, have been abused by partners in the state, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Those figures are for physical abuse alone, and do not include mental and emotional abuse.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/30/mississippi-domestic-abuse-violence-marriage-senate-bill-divorce

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. In the '70s, I was one of the people who started the first Battered Women's shelter in Wash. state

and it took ages to educate local and state government about the problem, and get police attitudes to change.


the American Taliban is becoming too successful in erasing progress this country has made in the last 40-50 years.

[raccoon]

18. Kudos to you for that. nt

[Triana]

2. As well they should. n/t

[Augiedog]

3. And sharia law continues to hold sway in backward ares of the nation

[world wide wally]

4. Good thing those rednecks believe in small gubmint

[edhopper]

5. And to point out that this is common

in the Deep Red South is "South bashing"

Sorry if you live there, but your elected officials are fundamentalist fascists and the majority of people there seemed to want that.

[AlbertCat]

11. that this is common in the Deep Red South

What is common. Not passing legislation or wife beating?

I assure you domestic violence is common in PA (its like a family tradition in Pittsburgh from what I can tell) and no doubt in NJ and CT and WY and ND and AZ..... pick a state.

Also, passing dumb legislation and not passing sensible legislation is not a Southern thing either. It has been enjoying an epidemic in the South these last months, but is by no means exclusive to the South.

[edhopper]

15. Legislating based on the Bible

is so much more dominant in the South than anywhere else.


From the article:

“I think people here tend to lean on the bible in their decision-making about divorce,” said Cady, the women’s shelter founder. “They’re not considering what it says about helping women.”

The Bible includes abandonment among the reasons for legitimate divorce. So, Cady said, by rejecting the two-year clause, the Mississippi senate seems to be reaching for stricter limitations than the bible itself.

Shariah Law in the Deep South.

[Shrike47]

6. I was amazed to read this and discover there are still states which require 'fault' for divorce.

[RayStar]

8. Yes

This really makes Mississippi look like a lower than 3rd world country.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. That surprised me, as well.

I thought all the states had no-fault divorces by now.

[n2doc]

16. All states have a "no-fault" option

http://info.legalzoom.com/states-nofault-divorce-states-20400.html

This issue here is that domestic violence/abuse isn't a 'fault' in that state....

[malthaussen]

20. Ah, that explains it.

It's all about the money, then.

-- Mal

[valerief]

7. My, how Saudi Arabian of them. nt

[Plucketeer]

9. Cruzland

[LeftishBrit]

10. WOW

I am shocked.

This is the sort of ruling I'd associate with somewhere like Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia.

Even long before no-fault divorce in the UK, it was possible to get a divorce for 'cruelty', since the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857.

[litlbilly]

12. Who are these fucking people? Just unbelievable to me.

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. These are the legislators who have been passing bills written by ALEC.

And they are not limited to one area of the country.

[Ruby the Liberal]

23. Under the principle of 'follow the money'

which IMO is the driving force behind ALEC's legislation-in-a-kit work, who benefits from this?

[dixiegrrrrl]

24. White male privilege????

Good to see you again....

[jwirr]

14. For heaven's sake - if domestic abuse is not a reason for

abuse what is? It sounds like Sheria Law (sp?) has finally made it to this state.

[Scruffy Rumbler]

17. Of course they can't pass this bill...

There would be no one home to cook their dinners after a hard day taking away peoples' rights!

[ncjustice80]

19. The Rethugs are too busy beating their wives...

And molesting children ton pass sensible laws.

[dixiegrrrrl]

22. And cheating on their wives..

Looking at YOU...Gov. Bentley.