Tikkun Magazine, March/April 2010

A Spiritual Perspective on Family Courts

by Bruce Peterson

Spiritual progressives believe that practical public policies flow from the application of spiritual principles to national problems. Our spiritual consciousness isn't just some warm glow—rather, it provides practical guidance in a complicated world. This magazine often thoughtfully advocates very specific, spiritually grounded responses to pressing issues such as terrorism, financial collapse, a sick health care system, and global warming. Equally urgent is the need for a better family policy, but the components of a coherent spiritual progressive approach tend to get lost in the furor over abortion, gay marriage, and marriage promotion programs.

Over the last seven years I have observed thousands of families in crisis while serving as a family court judge in Hennepin County, Minnesota, which includes Minneapolis. I have watched how cases of divorce, parenting disputes between unmarried parents, domestic abuse, and child support enforcement regularly generate gut-wrenching anger, pain, anxiety, and grief.

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