The Bayne Campaign For Justice Part 30

Zabeth and Paul Bayne – Part 30 – The Bayne Campaign for Justice

A Guilty Bystander

I did not want to be a ‘guilty bystander’ – a Thomas Merton expression from the title of one of his books, ‘Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander.’ I could easily be that – a guilty bystander. I am sure there have been other occasions in life when I have stood by and done nothing to assist or aid. This time however, the dilemma of a young family caught in the grip of a regulatory system for which time and emotion seems unimportant, demanded my attention.

Paul and Zabeth Bayne have been living a nightmare for two years. John Grisham could script a narration like this. That’s what this is. A work of fiction based on real life. The fiction consists of what was alleged about the Baynes. Real life unfolded this way.

Two small boys are playing in the house. An infant daughter lies quietly on a blanket on the floor. Suddenly a burst of energy around a corner and one boy tumbling uncontrolled, falls on the baby girl. The baby settles down. Only after some time do symptoms appear in the baby’s behaviour that concern the parents. Over a period of several days, the baby is taken to several hospitals because of inconclusive examinations. At the last hospital a diagnosis is rendered – Shaken Baby Syndrome – the opinion of one doctor. Someone shook the baby. The wheels of Child Protection are set into motion. Reps from the Ministry of Children appear at the Bayne household and take custody of the three children. Their mother and father with tearful and terrified alarm are arrested on the charge of aggravated assault and are individually interrogated. She is briefly hospitalized because of the trauma of the ordeal. The police conclude there is no evidence to proceed with this charge. It is dropped, and their arrest record expunged. There is even a police apology. However, the Ministry of Children has the Bayne children. Regardless of the police judgment, Paul and Zabeth are still considered a danger to their children in the minds of the district child protection group. Their story of the accidental collision of one child on top of another is discounted in favour of the one doctor’s Shaken Baby diagnosis. Even though Child Protection espouses the objective of returning children to parents when it seems wise and proper, the proverbial wheels of the Child Protection agency turn slowly, very slowly. The boys are permitted by the Ministry to live with the grandparents. One entire year passes during which time, Paul and Zabeth have been compelled to acquire legal help. Lawyers cost money – lots of money. The legal efforts prove futile and eventually the Bayne home has liens put against it to pay for legal fees. The Ministry learns that another medical assessment of the baby girl suggests she suffers from a rare metabolic condition known as Glutaric Aciduria which resembles shaken baby syndrome. This revelation could absolve the parents of suspicion. The parents are not informed of this condition nor does the Ministry proactively provide medical treatment for this condition. Someone in control of the case either doubts the alternate option or does not care enough to press for truth. The parents learn about it from a caregiver privy to the information. More time passes. Now it is the spring and 18 months have passed when Paul and Zabeth are also allowed to live in the grandparents’ home under supervised arrangement. The Ministry has received numerous letters of personal support and character commendation for the Baynes. Regularly for months a protest group holds placards outside the premier’s downtown office to ask for the return of the children without apparent success. The Bayne’s tortuous story gains public attention and television journalists clamour for their chronicle but after the news is aired, without announcing their arrival, the Ministry people accompanied by police interrupt one of the small boy’s birthday party in the Grandparents’ home. They seize the Bayne boys and once again have custody of all three. Even the Ministry lawyer after some time says there is no ground for holding the boys and advises the Ministry to return the sons. The Ministry ignores the advice. The Ministry is moving this to court, but again slowly, very slowly. Unable to afford any more lawyers the Baynes are met by a high profile Canadian lawyer who expresses willingness to represent them. It is now over two years that the Ministry in violation of its own governing ACT and without the proper court authorization has held three children from their parents.

That is not the end of the story. It is still being written. You have only finished half of this narrative “The Bayne Campaign for Justice.” You are going to help to write the conclusion.
Today, please go to the petition page to sign for them, and send this link to your friends.
Please Don’t Hesitate to Sign this Petition. Click this Link or the one below..

“Bayne Campaign for Justice Petition”
Join the growing number of people who are signing a petition to have the children returned to Paul and Zabeth. It’s free and takes less than a minute of your time. Please sign your full name, even though the anonymous option is offered. The name counts.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Baynekids?e

Source:

http://ronunruhgps.blogspot.com/2009/11/zabeth-and-paul-bayne-part-30-bayne.html

The Bayne Campaign For Justice Part 29

Zabeth and Paul Bayne – Part 29 – The Bayne Campaign for Justice

HELP THEM TO HOPE

I have told you before that Paul and Zabeth are people with a personal faith in God and are committed Christians. Faith plays a role in coping with heartache as great as theirs has been and still is. In fact they would say that without a belief that Someone beyond this realm is looking after their life and their interests, they would despair. Almost everyone in an elected or hired position of authority that might influence this case and to whom they have appealed, has declined, or not answered, or found a conflict of commitments or protocol. But they truly believe that God has introduced into their lives some people who are vitally interested in helping them and who can speak for them to present a reasonable claim for the return of their children. Further, they believe that this agony has extended this long for purposes not yet revealed but that far exceed the expectations of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

They say that they must purposely entrust their children to God’s care each day and they are comforted in knowing that so many people are praying for them and their children. If not for this comfort they would be overcome with worry not only for the children’s present emotional and physical well being but for the ultimate outcome of this hard passage in their lives. They admit to losing hope or composure at times when they have to say goodbye yet again or they pass a room where the children might be.

They have told me. “We have made each visit with our children one that contains Bible story time, prayer before snacks, prayer before we part, encouraging them to talk to Jesus when they are afraid, lonely, wanting to come home, etc. Time is so short and we do see evidence of the foster homes set of ethics and values. What we had wanted for our children in training as well as in preserving their innocence and growth feels so threatened, but again we have given our children to the Lord to care for and He does watch over them. We will continue to do all we can to foster their love for Jesus and their trust in Him to bring them home.”
While you sip your coffee today, please go to the petition page to sign for them, and send this link to your friends.
Please Don’t Hesitate to Sign this Petition. Click the Link below..

“Bayne Campaign for Justice Petition”
Join the growing number of people who are signing a petition to have the children returned to Paul and Zabeth. It’s free and takes less than a minute of your time. Please sign your full name, even though the anonymous option is offered. The name counts.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Baynekids?e

Source:

http://ronunruhgps.blogspot.com/2009/11/zabeth-and-paul-bayne-part-29-bayne.html