February 1, 2015
Judge Tom
0

Judge Tom

Dear Ian: Since you are a minor, your parents have the responsibility to raise you and take care of all of your basic needs including shelter. They get to make decisions about your upbringing including what church you attend and faith to follow. We suggest you try talking to your parents about your wishes and beliefs and have a calm, mature conversation. It’s possible that you can reach an agreement that will make you all happy. Maybe if they realize how strongly you feel and how much thought you’ve given your beliefs, they will be more receptive to giving you some freedom in this area. You can read more about this issue here. Good luck.

Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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