Opinion ID: 1878886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: The moral fitness of the parents

Text: ¶ 23. The seventh factor, moral fitness, took the lion's share of the chancellor's attention and is essentially what Beth argues dealt the fatal blow to her attempt to retain custody of Zach. Chancellor Watts noted that neither parent attended church regularly, which was disturbing to the Court to some degree. The chancellor further stated Beth having a red light bulb in a fixture is somewhat unusual, but not determinative of the issues herein. It is impossible to understand why the color of a light bulb is mentioned under this heading. ¶ 24. The chancellor then dove into the allegations of the homosexual affair. Chancellor Watts found Beth's testimony regarding this issue to be untrustworthy. In fact, because Beth's testimony denying her relationship with Dukes directly contradicted Donna Mauldin's testimony confirming it, he asked the District Attorney's office to consider conducting an investigation into whether or not Beth committed perjury by denying she had a homosexual relationship with Dukes. The chancellor further noted that he ought to have confidence that the custodial parent is a truthful, forthright person, and he stated that he lacked that confidence in Beth. Accordingly, he found that this factor weighed heavily in Tim's favor. ¶ 25. Chancellor Watts also noted that evidence of a homosexual relationship is not, per se, a basis to determine that child custody should be denied. [3] He then went on to rehash, in detail, all of the testimony regarding Beth's alleged sexual relationship with Dukes. This Court has held that: In divorce actions, as distinguished from proceedings for modification of custody, sexual misconduct on the part of the wife is not per se grounds for denial of custody. A husband may upon proof of his wife's adultery be granted an absolute divorce on that grounds and yet in the same case custody of the children may be awarded to the mother. Our cases well recognize that it may be in the best interest of a child to remain with its mother even though she may have been guilty of adultery. Cheek v. Ricker, 431 So.2d 1139, 1144-45 n. 3 (Miss.1983)(citing Yates v. Yates, 284 So.2d 46, 47 (Miss.1973); Anderson v. Watkins, 208 So.2d 573 (Miss.1968); Schneegass v. Schneegass, 194 So.2d 214 (Miss.1966)). ¶ 26. This view of custody arrangements is comparable to that employed in other states in similar fact situations. Cheek, 431 So.2d at 1145 n. 4 (citing Roberson v. Roberson, 370 So.2d 1008, 1011 (Ala. Civ.App.1979) (a mother will not be denied custody for every act of indiscretion or immorality, especially where no detrimental effect on the welfare of the child has been shown); Rippon v. Rippon, 64 Ill.App.3d 465, 21 Ill.Dec. 135, 381 N.E.2d 70, 73 (1978) (indulgence in moral indiscretions alone is not grounds for a change of custody where the children are leading a normal life)). ¶ 27. The trial court never found the mother unfit to care for Zach, and no evidence was presented regarding any detrimental effects the child may have suffered as a result of living with his mother. The chancellor failed to mention that Tim admitted drinking a couple of beers every other day, that he drank to the point of being under the influence in the past, and formerly gambled every other week, but had not gambled recently because he did not have the money to do so. Beth also admitting to drinking to the point of intoxication in the past, but admitted that she gambled only once every six months. ¶ 28. While this factor is as important as any other and should be given its due consideration, it appears that the allegations offered under this heading were far and away the most scrutinized among the evidence reviewed at trial.