Court: Spanking Enough to Deny Foster Parent Application

The highest court in Massachusetts has ruled that the state child welfare agency acted legally when it denied a couple's application to become foster parents because they spanked their children.

Gregory and Melanie Magazu said they use corporal punishment on their biological children in accordance with their Christian faith, but would not spank any foster children.

A lawyer for the state said many foster children are traumatized, and seeing another child spanked could further traumatize them.

The Magazus said the department's decision was "arbitrary and capricious," and infringes on their constitutional religious rights.

The Supreme Judicial Court's decision Monday said the Magazus' rights are outweighed by the department's interest in protecting foster children.

Neither the Magazus' lawyer nor the Department of Children and Families immediately responded to phone messages.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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