Boy Granted ‘Divorce’ From Parents

Thank God for Gregory Kingsley (now Russ), who sued to end the parental rights of his birth mother, and to be adopted by his foster family. We now realize that children have rights under the law like the rest of us do. Some 12-year-olds like Gregory know their self-interest better than many adults who would decide for them. Children are naturally reticent to expose an abusive parent, no matter how painful things are. When a child like Gregory doesn’t talk about parental abuse and/or neglect over many years, we need to pay attention to the silence.

REV. ROBERT M. HERHOLD

Palo Alto