Religion Joins Custody Cases, to Judges’ Unease

February 13, 2008

Author: NEELA BANERJEE

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/us/13custody.html?_r=2&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1203434351-PhStLwKxtVso16fqZfV6Ww

On a January night nine years ago, Laura Snider was saved.

A 27-year-old single mother at the time, Mrs. Snider felt she had ruined her life through a disastrous marriage and divorce. But in her kitchen that night, after reading pamphlets and Bible passages that her boss had pointed her to, she realized she was a sinner, she said, she prayed for forgiveness, and put her trust in Christ.

Four years later, the conservative brand of Christianity Mrs. Snider embraced became the source of a bitter, continuing custody battle over her only child, Libby Mashburn.