Case Title: Kendall v. Kendall

Citation: 426 Mass. 238 (1997)

Docket Number: 

State: massachusetts

Court: Massachusetts Supreme Court

Date: 1997-12-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Norfolk.
Present: WILKINS, C.J., ABRAMS, LYNCH, GREANEY, MARSHALL, & IRELAND, JJ.
Michael S. Greco (Robert A. Bertsche & Melissa J. Solomon with him) for Jeffrey P. Kendall.
David E. Cherny (Jacob M. Atwood with him) for Barbara Zeitler Kendall.
LYNCH, J.
This appeal arises out of a judgment of divorce nisi 239*239 issued on August 20, 1996.[1] Jeffrey P. Kendall, the defendant, appeals from provisions of the divorce judgment and a temporary order issued after Barbara Zeitler Kendall, the plaintiff, filed a complaint against him in the Probate Court for contempt of the divorce judgment.[2] The plaintiff also filed a cross appeal, requesting an award of attorney's fees and reversal of the joint custody order and disposition of the marital home. We granted the defendant's application for direct appellate review.
1. Factual background. We summarize the facts found by the judge. The parties professed to hold different religious beliefs when they were married in 1988, the plaintiff being Jewish, and the defendant, Catholic.[3] The parties' fundamental religious differences would be unremarkable but for their controversial effect on their three minor children[4] caught in the crossfire generated by their parents. Before the parties were married, they 240*240 discussed the religious upbringing of any children, and agreed that children would be raised in the Jewish faith.[5]
In 1991, the defendant became a member of the Boston Church of Christ, a fundamentalist Christian faith. The defendant believes in Jesus Christ and that those who do not accept the Boston Church of Christ faith are "damned to go to hell" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth." The defendant testified that he would like his children to accept Jesus Christ and that he "will never stop trying to save his children."
The parties' divergent views polarized in 1994 when the plaintiff adopted Orthodox Judaism.[6] Ariel also began studying and adhering to principles of Orthodox Judaism. Soon after the parties' beliefs drifted to opposite doctrinal extremes, the plaintiff filed for divorce in November, 1994, based on an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, pursuant to G. L. c. 208, § 1B.
2. The court proceedings. At the outset the plaintiff sought to limit the children's exposure to the defendant's religion, and the defendant objected to any limitation on his ability to share his religious beliefs with the children.[7] On October 18, 1995, the judge granted the plaintiff's request for the appointment of a 241*241 guardian ad litem (GAL) to "address the inter-religious conflict between the parties in particular."[8]
In Felton v. Felton, 383 Mass. 232, 233 (1981), this court addressed the question of accommodating diverse religious practices of parents, living apart, in the upbringing of minor children. The court held that the overriding goal in any such inquiry is to serve the best interests of the children even where "the attainment of that purpose ... involve[s] some limitation of the liberties of one or other of the parents." Id. at 233.
The judge found it substantially damaging to the children to leave each parent free to expose the children, as he or she wishes, to his or her religion. The resulting judgment of divorce contained the following paragraphs:[9]
The defendant argues in this appeal that the judge's findings did not demonstrate "substantial harm" to the children so as to warrant the limitations imposed on his liberty interest in educating his children in the tenets of his religion. He challenges both the judge's factual findings of harm and the legal conclusions based on that evidence.[10]
3. Standard of review. We scrutinize without deference the legal standard which the judge applied to the facts to ensure the ultimate findings and conclusions are consistent with the law. Williams v. Resolution GGF Oy, 417 Mass. 377, 382 (1994), 243*243 citing Marlow v. New Bedford, 369 Mass. 501, 508 (1976). The plaintiff was required to demonstrate "in detail" that exposure to the defendant's religion caused the children "substantial injury, physical or emotional, and [would] have a like harmful tendency for the future." Felton v. Felton, supra at 234, 235. We uphold the judge's factual findings unless they are clearly erroneous[11]; we review her legal conclusions to ensure they are based on correct legal standards. Williams v. Resolution GGF Oy, supra at 382 n.6.
4. Analysis. "[P]arents together have freedom of religious expression and practice which enters into their liberty to manage the familial relationships." Felton v. Felton, supra at 233, citing Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972). Those individual liberties may be restricted where there is a compelling interest. Felton v. Felton, supra. A parent's right to practice religion may be restricted only where limited exposure to that parent's beliefs is necessary to further a child's best interests. Felton v. Felton, supra. To do so, there must be an affirmative showing of harm caused by exposure to the conflicting religious teachings. Id. at 233-234.
The determinative issue is whether the harm found to exist in this case is demonstrated to be so substantial so as to warrant a limitation on the defendant's religious freedom. In Felton v. Felton, this court suggested that a "likely source[]" of proof of substantial harm "by implication" could be derived from testimony as to the child's general demeanor, attitude, school work, appetite, health or outlook. Id. at 242, citing Pope v. Pope, 267 S.W.2d 340, 343 (Mo. Ct. App. 1954). The court also opined that the "wholly uncorroborated testimony" of a parent was insufficient to demonstrate harm. Felton v. Felton, supra. By implication, the court suggested that a plaintiff should consult "church, school, medical or psychiatric authorities" to support a charge that a child has been harmed by exposure to the parent's religious beliefs. Id. Moreover, the court specifically recommended the appointment of "a qualified investigator 244*244 (whether called a guardian or some other title) who would look into the facts, render a report, and be subject to examination by the parties." Id.
Other States have struggled to define what constitutes substantial harm.[12] Very few have actually ruled that substantial harm had been demonstrated.[13] [14]
We adhere to the line of cases requiring clear evidence of substantial harm.[15] See note 12, supra. Application of the strict 245*245 requirements in those cases comports with the protections of religious freedoms historically preserved under the Massachusetts Constitution. See Society of Jesus of New England v. Boston Landmarks Comm'n, 409 Mass. 38 (1990), S.C., 411 Mass. 754 (1992) (citing authorities documenting historical protection of religious freedoms).
The harm found to exist in this case presents more than the generalized fears criticized in Felton v. Felton, supra. The judge afforded substantial weight to the GAL's report.[16] The judge considered the report so "comprehensive" that it should be considered in its entirety on any appellate review.[17] Among the factors the judge cited to support her conclusion that substantial harm to the children had been demonstrated are the following findings:
Whether the harm found to exist amounts to the "substantial harm" required to justify interference with the defendant's liberty interest is a close question, especially because there is considerable value in "frequent and continuing contact" between the child and both parents, and "contact with the parents' separate religious preferences." Felton v. Felton, supra at 234. In this regard the judge ruled:
In balancing these conflicting interests, fully aware of the complexities and nuances involved, we conclude that the judge's findings support her order in paragraph 5 of the judgment.
Where, as here, the judge has found demonstrable evidence of substantial harm to the children, we reject the defendant's arguments that the divorce judgment burdens his right to practice religion under the free exercise clauses of the Massachusetts and United States Constitution.[18] Both the Massachusetts and the United States Constitutions permit limitations on individual liberties where there exists a compelling interest. See Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205, 230 (1972) (deferring to parental rights with respect to religious upbringing of children absent harm to their physical or mental health); Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158, 166-167 (1944) (recognizing parents' rights to practice religion and rights to family decision-making are not beyond limitation); Felton v. Felton, supra, at 233 (stating limitations on individual liberties permissible where best interests of child must be promoted); Custody of a Minor, 375 Mass. 733, 748 (1978) (emphasizing that parental rights "do not clothe parents with life and death authority over their children"). Promoting the best interests of the children is an interest sufficiently compelling to impose a burden on the 250*250 defendant's right to practice religion and his parental right to determine the religious upbringing of his children. Felton, supra at 233. Paragraph 5 of the divorce judgment is limited in scope and imposes a minimal burden on the defendant's right to practice religion by requiring only that he limit sharing certain aspects of his beliefs with his children. The divorce judgment imposes no additional limitations on the defendant's individual ability to practice his religion. Thus, we believe paragraph 5 of the divorce judgment is a constitutional limitation on the defendant's individual liberties as it is necessary to ensure the best interests of the children.
The defendant's claim that the divorce judgment violates art. 11 of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution and the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution must also be rejected. In making establishment clause assessments in the past we have applied the test set out by the United States Supreme Court in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602, 612 (1971). Attorney Gen. v. Bailey, 386 Mass. 367, 378, cert. denied sub nom. Bailey v. Bellotti, 459 U.S. 970 (1982). In so doing we determine whether the divorce judgment has a secular purpose, that neither advances nor inhibits religion, and does not "foster `an excessive government entanglement with religion.'" Attorney Gen. v. Bailey, supra, quoting Lemon v. Kurtzman, supra at 612-613. Although there is considerable doubt about the continued vitality of the test in Lemon v. Kurtzman, supra, in light of recent decisions of the Supreme Court,[19] we reach this conclusion if we apply that more stringent test.
We reject the defendant's claim that the divorce judgment "established Judaism" as the religion to govern his children's upbringing. In limiting the children's exposure to the defendant's religion, the judge merely recognized the preference that the parties allowed to develop and one that the defendant, until recently, encouraged. Moreover, paragraph 5 was intended for a wholly secular purpose — to limit the emotional harm to the children caused by exposure to negative messages presented by the defendant's religion.[20] Although the judgment contemplates continued court involvement, it does not foster excessive 251*251 government entanglement because the focus of any judicial inquiry will center on the emotional or physical harm to the children rather than the merit-worthiness of the parties' respective religious teachings.
5. Joint custody. The plaintiff argues on cross appeal that it was an abuse of discretion to award joint legal custody to the parties. The determination of custody rests within the discretion of the judge. Vilakazi v. Maxie, 371 Mass. 406, 409 (1976). The material facts found and reported must support the judge's action in awarding joint legal custody to the parties. Id. We are mindful of the importance of a trial judge's opportunity to observe and appraise both parents in custody matters. Stevens v. Stevens, 337 Mass. 625, 627 (1958). The plaintiff argues that joint legal custody is inappropriate because she and the defendant are unable to agree on "major decisions regarding the [children's] ... moral and religious development." G. L. c. 208, § 31. See Rolde v. Rolde, 12 Mass. App. Ct. 398, 404-405 (1981) (suggesting joint custody is appropriate where parents are "relatively stable" and "amicable" and agree on basic issues). Because the plaintiff points to no conflict other than the parties' inability to reconcile their views as to the children's religious upbringing, we conclude that she has not established that the judge abused her discretion in granting joint custody.[21]
6. Property disposition and attorney's fees. The plaintiff also argues the judge erred in granting the defendant twenty-five per cent of the proceeds on the sale of the jointly owned marital home because her family provided the funds for its purchase. We will not set aside the trial judge's division of marital assets unless an award is "plainly wrong and excessive." Heins v. Ledis, 422 Mass. 477, 481 (1996). The judge found that the purchase of the marital home was a completed gift to the parties from the plaintiff's parents. The award was well within the proper exercise of her discretion.
The plaintiff also claims that she should have been awarded attorney's fees pursuant to G. L. c. 208, § 38, because the defendant proceeded in a dilatory and vexatious manner. The 252*252 judge's decision not to award attorney's fees is within her discretion. Brash v. Brash, 407 Mass. 101, 106 (1990). Furthermore, she was in a position to observe first hand the defendant's conduct; therefore, we shall not disturb her assessment on the basis of a printed record.
Judgment affirmed.
[1]  On September 26, 1996, the Probate and Family Court judge issued a clarified judgment of divorce nisi, nunc pro tunc, to August 20, 1996. The clarified judgment effectuated minor changes to provisions of the initial judgment. These changes are unrelated to the issues raised in this appeal. Except for the minor revisions, the initial judgment and the clarified judgment are essentially the same.
[2]  The judge issued the challenged temporary order on October 22, 1996 "[i]n the interim" and "until the matter could be heard at trial" (emphasis added). We reject the defendant's argument that the order is reviewable by this court. Despite the defendant's present position, he treated these orders as temporary when he appealed on November 27, 1996, pursuant to G. L. c. 231, § 118, first par. We note that, were we to conclude that the temporary orders were properly before us, we would scrutinize very carefully any order requiring an individual to audiotape religious services unless there was general acquiescence to the order's mandates. We would look more favorably on an order defining neutral solutions so as to minimize the court's involvement in sectarian issues. For instance, requiring a neutral observer to determine whether the content of religious services was violative of the court's judgment and to report any detrimental effect on the children would allow the court to maintain its focus on the legal issues rather than engage in an interpretation of the intricacies of the parties' respective beliefs.
[3]  We note the judge's determination that "[b]oth parents share this view: that Jews do not believe that Jesus [Christ] was the son of God, while Christians do believe that Jesus was the son of God." While noting the divergent beliefs, we do not imply that this seeming "[i]rreconcilability" inevitably signifies conflict and hostility. See Zummo v. Zummo, 394 Pa. Super. 30, 76 (1990) (refusing to weigh reconcilability of Christianity and Judaism).
[4]  The children are Ariel (born October 10, 1988), Moriah (born May 19, 1991), and Rebekah (born April 21, 1993).
[5]  The majority of courts adhere to the view that predivorce agreements are constitutionally unenforceable. See C.P. Kindregan & M.L. Inker, Family Law and Practice § 20.5, at 647 (2d ed. 1996) ("unimaginable that a court would specifically enforce a contract governing ... the religious education of any children born of the marriage"); Zummo v. Zummo, supra at 58-67 (collecting cases). We note, however, that the judge found the children had primary familiarity with the Jewish faith. The judge concluded the children had a "Jewish identity" based on evidence that: the parties were married in a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony; Ariel was circumcised in accordance with Jewish tradition; both Moriah and Rebekah had traditional Jewish naming ceremonies; the parties agreed the children would attend a Jewish school; and all three children are so enrolled.
[6]  Orthodox Judaism is considered the most strictly doctrinal of the three Jewish movements (Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox).
[7]  After the plaintiff filed her complaint for divorce, a probate judge entered a temporary order according to a stipulation of the parties dated December 9, 1994. That "agreement" demonstrated that the parties considered their divergent religious views an issue throughout the divorce. The stipulation contained a provision stating, "Neither party shall make negative or derogatory comments to the children about the other parent or his/her religion." As soon as the order issued, both parties challenged the order's visitation schedule as interfering with planned weekend religious events with the children.
[8]  The judge appointed Dr. Michael A. Goldberg as the guardian ad litem (GAL). The defendant initially expressed concern that the GAL would be biased because he perceived him as being Jewish. However, when the GAL indicated his willingness to withdraw, the defendant told him he wished to proceed and stated he was comfortable with his ability to conduct the investigation without bias.
[9]  The judgment also ordered that the plaintiff retain sole physical custody of the children, and awarded the parties joint legal custody. The plaintiff's challenge to the award of joint custody is discussed in a subsequent section.
[10]  As in Felton v. Felton, 383 Mass. 232, 239 (1981), this appeal brings questions of law, fact, and discretion.
[11]  We reject the defendant's argument that the judge improperly relied on Dr. Steven Hassan's testimony regarding cults, mind control, and the Boston Church of Christ. The defendant contends Dr. Hassan was not a qualified expert and his testimony was highly prejudicial. Even assuming the testimony was inadmissible, the judge specifically stated that she did not rely on Dr. Hassan's testimony in making her ruling; therefore, there can be no prejudicial effect. See Berlandi v. Commonwealth, 314 Mass. 424, 452 (1943); Commonwealth v. Darby, 37 Mass. App. Ct. 650, 655 (1994).
[12]  See Khalsa v. Khalsa, 107 N.M. 31, 36 (Ct. App. 1988) (general testimony regarding parents' divergent religious beliefs causing child to be upset or confused insufficient to justify restriction of exposure to noncustodial parent's religion); Munoz v. Munoz, 79 Wash. 2d 810, 815 (1971) (duality of religious beliefs does not per se create conflict in child's mind); Robertson v. Robertson, 19 Wash. App. 425, 427 (1978) (child's alarm at religious beliefs insufficient); Zummo v. Zummo, 394 Pa. Super. 30, 74-76 & n.39 (1990) (rejecting speculation by parents and experts as to potential future emotional harm to child based on assumption that exposure is generally harmful); In re Marriage of Weiss, 42 Cal. App. 4th 106, 116-117, cert. denied sub nom. Weiss v. Weiss, 519 U.S. 1007 (1996) (rejected notion that contradictory messages caused harm, no evidence child had disciplinary problems, nor bruises); In re Marriage of Mentry, 142 Cal. App. 3d 260, 266 (1983) (held that evidence of child's social adjustment problems in school and periodic stomach aches were not attributable to conflict over religion); Kirchner v. Caughey, 326 Md. 567, 577, 579 (1992) (child psychiatrist determined that child suffered from anxiety was not conclusive where problems could just as easily have been attributed to parental conflicts); Levitsky v. Levitsky, 231 Md. 388, 398 (1963) (requiring serious danger to life or health of child before determining protection necessary from exposure to parent's religious beliefs).
[13]  In Morris v. Morris, 271 Pa. Super. 19, 35 (1979), the court prohibited the child's father, a Jehovah's Witness, from bringing the child, a baptized Catholic, with him on door-to-door proselytetic endeavors. Kirchner v. Caughey, supra at 581, similarly cautioned against prohibiting parents' ability to share their religious beliefs with their children unless the beliefs involved proselytizing. See Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158 (1944) (limiting guardian's ability to expose minor child to religious proselytizing). In Ledoux v. Ledoux, 234 Neb. 479, 486 (1990), the court upheld a prohibition of a child's exposure to the noncustodial parent's religion where a child psychologist found the child suffered from "serious" stress evidenced by bed wetting. In Ledoux, however, the Nebraska court followed its precedent that the custodial parent usually determines the child's religious upbringing. Id.
[14]  One State court seemed to recognize the broad range of available case law, stating, "As the threat to the child diminishes, the balancing of interests becomes more difficult." Kirchner v. Caughey, supra at 576.
[15]  The case of Morris v. Morris, supra, cautioned against an overly strict requirement of substantial harm. In Morris, supra at 34, the court noted that, in a given case, the court should not have to wait until a showing of present psychological harm "progress[es] to a mentally crippling point before action could be taken."
[16]  The GAL's report was based on interviews with the parents, the children, and the children's teachers, psychological tests, and observations of the children interacting with both parents.
[17]  We reject the defendant's argument that the judge erred in refusing to allow him to review the GAL's file notes. The defendant was not denied an opportunity to rebut the GAL's report or cross-examine the GAL. See Gilmore v. Gilmore, 369 Mass. 598, 605 (1976) (finding error where judge refused to allow GAL to testify at trial). The defendant had a copy of the GAL's report and took advantage of his opportunity to cross-examine the GAL at trial. There was no error.
[18]  We note that the defendant has raised a constitutional claim under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb-1 et seq. (1994). Even if properly raised, this claim cannot succeed where the Supreme Court declared the Religious Freedom Restoration Act unconstitutional in Boerne v. Flores, 117 S. Ct. 2157 (1997).
[19]  See The Supreme Court, 1996 Term, Fallon, Foreword: Implementing the Constitution, 111 Harv. L. Rev. 56, 85 (1997); The Supreme Court, 1994 Term, Fried, Foreword: Revolutions?, 109 Harv. L. Rev. 13, 68 (1995).
[20]  For similar reasons, we reject the defendant's argument that paragraph 6 of the divorce judgment, which requires the guardian ad litem to explain the court's judgment to the children, is an unconstitutional establishment of religion.
[21]  The judge heard considerable testimony over the course of a five-day trial and apparently did not consider the parties unable to cooperate on other child care issues.