Too traumatic for the children to be removed from the secretive Christian sect? Wouldn't that indicate child abuse and be grounds for the children being removed from the abusers?

The judge went on the have a dig at the idiocy of the Exclusive Brethren.

In the decision, both parents were banned from discussing or denigrating each other's faith in front of the children, with similar orders put on extended family within the sect who were accused, along with Exclusive Brethren elders, of trying to turn the children away from their father and his worldly influences.

Family Court judge Robert Benjamin said the case reflected a conflict between the principles of church and the laws of government.

Justice Benjamin said it was time for the Exclusive Brethren to give up their fight, through a series of well-funded custody battles over the past 30 years, to stop defecting members getting access to their children.

It must surely not be beyond your intellect and wit to find a dimension in your beliefs so that they may reconcile with the law of this country and the need for children to know both of their parents, he said.

The mother is a shiny beckon of sensibility with her declaration that she'll pretty much shun the children, like she has their father, if they refuse to stay with the Exclusive Brethren.

Asked what she would do if the children were ordered to live with their father, the mother said she would want a relationship with them, but only if they were faithful to the Exclusive Brethren.

There's an interesting wrap up from the judge.

The mother was told to comply with bi-monthly visits and that her abusive behaviour in terms of these children cease immediately. These children are not a thing or a possession of the mother or the church, he said.

Justice Benjamin said he took the unusual step of calling the children to court after they expressed a wish not to see their father. You may have received mixed messages from others close to you about whether it is OK to see your father and spend good times with him. Let me make it clear: it is OK, he said.

A nice thought, but one that may be useless. These are children that have been brainwashed from birth, so the logical words of the judge will almost certainly be viewed as evil. If not immediately, then they'll soon be twisted to appear so by the control-freak loons in their cult.

I suspect there'll be a follow up to this story in a year or so when the cult ignores the verdict of the court and plays silly buggers again.

Court lets sect kids see dad, but not TV—The Australian, 15th January 2007 (via redwolf.newsvine.com).