Parental Rights - Shoecraft v. Catholic Social Services Bureau: For an Unwed Father, Five Days Is Forever

Abstract

INTRODUCTION|Historically, whether in fiefdom or on the plantation, one of the most cherished privileges of males of the upper socioeconomic classes has been the time honored pastime of "wenching." The participants in this sport have traditionally been protected by both the common law and statute law. In essence, the law has traditionally denigrated the mother of an illegitimate child; branded and banished the child from any claim or birth rights from and through the father including name and fortune. The pattern is woven throughout recorded history from ancient Rome to Kent to South Africa to Natchez...