CustodyMatch.com - Find the Right Custody Attorney Family Law Attorneys, Divorce Attorneys, and Child Custody Attorneys specializing in Divorce and Child Custody Litigation in the following Southern California counties: Imperial - Orange - Los Angeles - Santa Barbara - Riverside - San Bernardino - San Diego - San Luis Obispo - Ventura

How to Express Your Concerns with this Film

You can let the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) know how you feel: click here

What's Wrong with this Film - Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories?

On October 20, 2003-2006, PBS and Connecticut Public Broadcasting aired a film called Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories, which has many parents and families concerned about the one-sidedness of the film that appears to have misguided facts about the family court system with respect to child custody. Specifically, Breaking the Silence attempts to misguide the nation by presenting a one-sided view of a very controversial subject, Parental Alienation Syndrome or PAS. The film goes further to draw and arrive at conclusions that are unsupported. Breaking the Silence is airing this month and is funded by the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, the charity arm of the Mary Kay cosmetics company.

What's wrong with Breaking the Silence? One disturbing example is the newly revealed court findings, records and testimony show that show Sadia Loeliger -- portrayed as a heroic mom in the film, abused children under her care. A Tulare County Juvenile Court concluded in August of 1998 that Sadia Loeliger had committed eight counts of abuse, and adjudged both her daughters as dependents of the Juvenile Court. To learn more, click here.

Although it appears that there are many Woman's Organizations rallying together in support of the Breaking the Silence film and many Father's Rights groups opposing it, from my experience PAS is not a gender issue so much as it is a behavioral issue exhibited by both bitter mothers and fathers in the context of custody disputes. Any attempt to discredit the existence of parental alienation as a behavior in the context of custody disputes is not supported on any account. What I find most interesting is that an equal number if not more mothers have written to me about concerns of PAS in their custody situation as oppose to fathers. Nevertheless, parental alienation still remains to be an epidemic in the context of custody disputes in the family courts and this destructive behavior continues to be an assault on innocent children's mental and emotional well being to satisfy the emotional needs of a self-seeking and self-centered parent. To learn more about PAS, click here.

Irregardless of ones views or position on PAS, "Viewers Like You" have emailed and written PBS by the thousands to express your disappointment and concerns with this one-sided film questioning the Editorial Standards set forth by PBS on many accounts such as the following: Fairness, Accuracy, Objectivity, Balance, Responsiveness to the Public, Substance Over Technique, Editing, Publicity, Manipulatoin, Manipulation of the Audience

News and Updates - Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories

[11.10.2005]  A Call to Action: Round 3 of PBS Protest
A PBS documenatary that reveals the power of the media to misguide the nation with half stories about PAS. How to contact and write PBS and Connecticut Public Broadcasting to express your disappointment and concerns with this film that unfairly presents only one side of the issue. Read more...

[11.01.2005]  A Call to Action: Round 2 of PBS Protest Begins
Juvenile Court, CPS, and family court records detail the mother in the film's physical abuse. PBS and the filmmakers decided, despite repeated warnings, including but not limited to letters, to nationally televise mother in the film and her claims. Read more...

[11.01.2005]  Portrays Known Child Abuser as Hero
Newly revealed court findings, records and testimony show that Sadia Loeliger, portrayed as a heroic mom in Breaking the Silence, abused children under her care. Read more...

[10.26.2005, Family News in Focus]  PBS Documentary Has Fathers Seething
PBS is running a documentary on the court system and abusive dads that appears to have a liberal agenda. "Breaking the Silence" is airing this month on PBS and is funded by the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, the charity arm of the Mary Kay cosmetics company. Read more...

[10.26.2005, Family News in Focus]  PBS Divorce Documentary Paints Dads as Abusive
The PBS documentary "Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories" claims divorce courts and abusive dads are teaming up to victimize children all over again, but family advocates are crying foul. Read more...

[10.25.2005]  Professionals Endorse PBS/'Breaking the Silence' Campaign
A list of professoinals that believe that PBS's Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories provides a distorted and counterproductive view of Parental Alienation Syndrome. Read more...

[10.24.2005]  Breaking the Silence Misrepresents the APA's Position on PAS
According to Rhea K. Farberman, Executive Director of Public and Member Communications of the American Psychological Association, these claims are "incorrect" and "inaccurate." Farberman says that the APA "does not have an official position on parental alienation syndrome--pro or con." She adds:

"The Connecticut Public Television press release is incorrect. I have notified both Connecticut Public Television and their PR firm of the inaccuracy in their press release." Read more...

[10.21.2005]  Houston PBS Affiliate Agrees to Air Opposing Views on Breaking the Silence
Houston PBS has agreed to air opposing views of Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories and Parental Alienation Syndrome on its round-table discussion show The Connection on Friday, October 28 at 8 PM CST and Sunday, October 30 at 5 PM CST. Read more...

[10.20.2005]  How to Contact PBS and Connecticut Public Broadcasting to Express Your Concerns
For those of you who are in shocked by the one-sided film by PBS filled with half-truths and misleading facts, which aired throughout the country on Thursday, October 20th, you may want to contact PBS and Connecticut Public Broadcasting expressing your concerns and disappointment with this film. Read more...

[06.20.2005, Family News in Focus]  PBS's Complaints from Viewers Like You is Nothing New
Under fire for liberal bias and with Congress chopping away at its funding, the Public Broadcasting Service and its parent, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, have announced plans to hire a new ombudsman and improve editorial standards. But have their standards really improved? Read more...

Other Resources - Breaking the Silence: Children's Stories

1. Friendly Fire: PBS Targeting 'Dads' as Predators on "Breaking the Silence"
   by Dean Tong (10-21-05)
2. PBS's Breaking the Silence: An Assault on Fatherhood
   by Glenn Sacks
3. PBS' "Breaking the Silence" not ready for prime time
   by Carey Roberts (10-16-05)
4. PBS Charged with Promoting Anti-Father Bias
   by TRC Media (10/19/05)

^ top