Boston, MA – The tragic case of Justina Pelletier has been dragging on for 14-months during which time she has been denied education, religious services or clergy visit, and has had abysmal medical care while in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF).
She has only been allowed one, one hour supervised visit per week with her mom and dad and they have not been permitted to take photographs of their daughter. But, following new legal pressure asserted by Liberty Counsel and intense media scrutiny, DCF permitted the most recent visitation to be unsupervised. Rev. Pat Mahoney, accompanied Lou and Linda Pelletier to visit Justina.
Justina is now speaking out and her words are being heard. Justina told her parents and Rev. Mahoney, “I feel like a prisoner.” She also asked, “Why can’t I go home with my parents?” “To hear Justina say she feels like a prisoner and wants to return home with her parents is heartbreaking,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “DCF has abused its authority and hurt this family. DCF had no right to come between Justina and her parents. The parents love their daughter and were following expert medical advice in treating their daughter. Justina was doing well under the parents care. Now she is confined to a wheelchair. Justin loved going to school, but she has not seen her classmates or received any education in 14-months. This is a tragedy. Justina needs to be freed from her prison,” said Staver.
Another hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 17, at the Juvenile Court. “My goal is to get Justina home,” Staver concluded.
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
