Alienation: Statement of the Archangel Association on the press campaign

In order to protect the interests of its female and male members and those seeking help, the Erzengel association feels compelled to issue a statement on the discussions on the subject of "alienation", "attachment intolerance" and "PAS", which culminated in criticism of the person of Stefan Rücker (see article Volksverpetzer of 29.05.2024, Report Mainz of 04.06.2024 and Tagesspiegel of 07.06.2024).

Our association is keen to point out that there are no fathers' or mothers' rights. Family law is about the best interests of the child. Parents of both genders suffer from mistakes in the protection of the rights of children and families. Above all, it is the children who suffer.

Alienation or the almost synonymously used terms contact problems, loss of contact, emotional alienation of children and adolescents from one of their two parents in the context of parental separation, refusal of contact, contact problems, parent-child contact problems, parent-child contact breakdown or gatekeeping etc. is a fact.

We therefore stick to the "burnt" and yet established concept of alienation as far as conspicuous and inexplicable contact breakdowns are concerned, regardless of whether there is direct or indirect induction of the child's will (manipulation) or whether this is what matters. For us, it is the (negative) result that is relevant, the termination of contact, which in our deepest conviction can only be acceptable in justified cases that can be justified by the child.

There are countless examples of children suddenly rejecting contact with a parent without a comprehensible reason and contrary to the observations of contact experts, who speak of good bonding and successful contact.

We are aware of such cases in Munich, Tettnang, Wangen im Allgäu, Mönchengladbach, Siegen, Speyer, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Essen, for example, just as we are aware of cases in which parents prevent contact even though this contradicts the child's wishes as expressed to the court (!).

We cannot recognize any systematic discrimination against one gender here. What we do recognize is the helplessness of the legal system and youth welfare services to deal with and resolve such contact problems.

* We demand that the scientific discussion be free of personal attacks.
* We would like to see all the arguments in the two authoritative essays "Zur Notwendigkeit professioneller Intervention bei Eltern-Kind-Entfremdung" and "Verdorbener Wein in neuen Schläuchen", both published in the ZKJ, discussed in the scientific discourse, especially insofar as the essays point out similarities and call for action by the courts (clarification of facts, assessment of findings, parental counseling).
* We refuse to allow journalistic campaigns to be run and the problem of alienation to be used only as an argument for preventing the alternation model as the leading model in family law, which is detrimental to the welfare of the child.
* In our opinion, it is a physical injury to child and parent in the sense of §223 StGB (German Criminal Code) to cause contact to be broken off if this is not justified or justifiable and the experience of professional helpers in contact paints a different picture and proves a good bond and enjoyment of contact.
* We would like to see a clarifying decision by the Federal Constitutional Court in deviation from 1 BvR 1076/23, which distinguishes between PAS as a diagnosis to be rejected without scientific value and alienation or one of the synonymous terms such as contact problems and recognizes the latter.
* We call for a focus on the term "best interests of the child" away from paternal or maternal rights and clarification that parental rights do not have to be identical to the interests of the child.
* Above all, however, we would like to see practicable solutions to contact problems that cannot consist of renaming the problem or arguing about terminology.

This is the only way to solve problems in the best interests of the child.

Frankfurt, 08.06.2024



Further information from our Executive Board on the technical problems can be found here. This article does not reflect the opinion of the association.

Erzengel Verein
Fuchstanzstr. 120 120
60489 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

https://www.erzengel.help/

Erzengel eV
Herr Michael Langhans
015678/108800

help@erzengel.help

The Archangel Association was founded in 2022. It is an association that has set itself the task of defending human rights, particularly in family law, criminal law and social law. The focus is always on people.

All members, without exception, are committed to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, human rights, children's rights, disability rights and fundamental rights.

Solving problems on a political and legal level always takes a back seat to supporting the person(s) affected on an emotional basis, without, of course, being forgotten.

Our association emphasizes that there are no fathers' or mothers' rights. Family law revolves around the best interests of the child. Parents of both sexes suffer from mistakes in the protection of the rights of children and families. Above all, it is the children who suffer.

This release was published on openPR.