# Texas judge denies mother custody because she's Church of the SubGenius member **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585 "2006-03-08T21:25:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/1 "2006-03-08T21:25:29Z")
As the Rev. Ivan Stang puts it, “We’re suddenly in the news, for all the wrong reasons.” [The Office Pulpit of Rev. Ivan Stang: We're suddenly in the news, for all the wrong reasons](http://revstang.blogspot.com/2006/02/were-suddenly-in-news-for-all-wrong.html) Sister Mary Magdalene (Rachel Knight), fiancee of the Church’s business manager, Steve “Jesus” Bevilacqua, was denied **all contact** with her son after the natural father presented Judge Punch (honestly!) with proof of her participation in CotSG events. See also: [http://www.subgenius.com/updates/maghelp.html](http://www.subgenius.com/updates/maghelp.html) [http://blogs.salon.com/0003494/2006/02/21.html:](http://blogs.salon.com/0003494/2006/02/21.html:) > [@](#): > > …On February 3, 2006, Judge Punch heard testimony in the case. Jeff entered into evidence 16 exhibits taken from the Internet, 12 of which are photographs of the SubGenius event, X-Day. Kohl has never attended X-Day and is not in any of the pictures. Rachel is depicted in many of these photos, often wearing skimpy costumes or completely nude, while participating in X-Day and Detroit Devival events. > > The judge, allegedly a very strict Catholic, became outraged at the photos of the X-Day parody of Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ — especially the photo where Jesus [Steve Bevilacqua] is wearing clown makeup and carrying a crucifix with a pool-noodle dollar sign on it while being beaten by a crowd of SubGenii, including a topless woman with a “dildo”. > > …Judge Punch lost his temper completely, and began to shout abuse at Rachel, calling her a “pervert,” “mentally ill,” “lying,” and a participant in “sex orgies.” The judge ordered that Rachel is to have absolutely no contact with her son, not even in writing, because he felt the pictures of X-Day performance art were evidence enough to suspect “severe mental illness”… (They later retracted the characterization of the Judge as Catholic; it’s not clear what his denomination is.) Rachel did at least get permission for supervised visitation, on 2/28/06 – see her blog: [http://rbevilacqua.blogspot.com/](http://rbevilacqua.blogspot.com/) But there is a silver lining, according to Stang: > [@](#): > > The good news is that we’re being FLOODED with Membership ordainment orders, DVD orders and radio show subscriptions. The Hour of Slack downloads jumped from maybe 300 or 400 to over 1,000. The bad news is that I have a new SubGenius book due by May 15 – and that includes writing, illustrating, and finished design! I mean, that’s good news, but it’s bad that two time-consuming events are coinciding. > > I wish this notoriety was happening for some other reason than a miscarriage of justice. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/2 "2006-03-08T21:36:10Z")
I’m amazed the ACLU or a young whipper snapper lawyer looking to get a name for himself by some pro-bono work haven’t picked this up and ran with it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/3 "2006-03-08T21:46:55Z")
See also ““Bob’s” Most Dutiful Servants in Desperate Straits – You Can Help” – [The Office Pulpit of Rev. Ivan Stang: "Bob's" Most Dutiful Servants in Desperate Straits -- You Can Help](http://revstang.blogspot.com/2006/02/bobs-most-dutiful-servants-in.html) ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/4 "2006-03-08T21:47:05Z")
The ACLU [has](http://subgenius.com/updates/maghelp.html) perked up it’s ears, so to speak. [QUOTE=linked page] The ACLU has been contacted, and a confidential investigation is proceeding into the judge’s conduct on the bench, but the wheels of justice turn slowly, especially in matters of judicial oversight. It is likely that the Bevilacqua family will need to raise approximately $50,000 to pursue their case through to an appeals court that will hopefully restore their son to them. Please help by donating whatever you can, or at least spreading the word to others who may be able to help. Any media exposure is welcome as well. [/QUOTE] (Scroll towards the bottom to see this part.) That’s a lotta money, I guess they expect they will have to fight tooth and nail. It’s not surprising though, custody battles are VERY costly. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/5 "2006-03-09T00:32:15Z")
BTW, Mods, is MPSIMS where this kind of threat belongs? Because somehow it didn’t seem quite right for GD, or the Pit. Move as you think appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/6 "2006-03-09T00:34:45Z")
:smack: “. . . this kind of **thread**. . .” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/7 "2006-03-09T02:29:52Z")
Heck, that even makes me want to join those clowns. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/8 "2006-03-09T02:53:32Z")
This judge is just about the pinkest man who ever lived. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/9 "2006-03-09T03:49:40Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] This judge is just about the pinkest man who ever lived. [/QUOTE] Just wait 'til the Stark Fist of Removal gets 'im. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/10 "2006-03-09T03:54:36Z")
We don’t need to wait. Well, at least I don’t. I am authorized by “Bob” to smite at will. And accept donations. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/11 "2006-03-09T04:00:47Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] This judge is just about the pinkest man who ever lived. [/QUOTE] That’s well beyond Pink and into Agent of the Conspiracy territory. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/12 "2006-03-09T04:10:18Z")
In the early ninties, after I bought and enjoyed High Wierdness by Mail, compiled by Ivan Stang, I wrote to him about Fred Phelps and his “church”. They would have fit right in with the chapter “Groups You Love to Hate, But They Probably Hate You More” This was before Fred was so notorious. Stang wrote back, and told me it would be fun to write a letter, that went something like this. _Dear Mr. Phelps: I’m a heterosexual male, rich as hell, who had never thought of donating to, or supporting gay rights. But after a person in Topeka Kansas sent me some of your faxes, I just wanted you to know that the gays and lesbians here in Dallas are going to be $10,000 richer."_ Stang said that of course it was all false, but it would be fun to mess with Fred’s head. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/13 "2006-03-09T04:20:09Z")
I wish I could say that I’m shocked that a judge in my state (in my part of the state, too) would be so bone-headed. Alas I’m not particularly impressed with family court judges anyways. Of course, before anyone gets the idea that one must be a judge in a backwater part of a state to be boneheaded, I’ll just say that I can point to at least one far worse travesty, going off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/14 "2006-03-09T13:24:24Z")
[Soup Nazi] No slack for YOU! [/Soup Nazi] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/15 "2006-03-09T13:55:22Z")
The judge is an ass, to be sure. Rachel has my sympathy, not being able to see your child is a terrible thing; I’ve been in that situation. OTOH, Stang, Bevilacqua et al. having been working very hard for a very long time on being just as outrageous and offensive as they can possibly be. It looks like they finally accomplished their purpose, as the judge seems very offended. I am ordained in The Church since 1995. I’ve been to devivals. I sometimes still visit the website. But you know what? The Church itself is pink. Stang and Co., and all the catch-phrase spouting little subgenii out there need to remember the most important thing “Bob” taught us: Kill “Bob!” ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/16 "2006-03-09T15:25:03Z")
Wow! I had no idea that’s what went on with the subgenius folks. That’s awesome. … Oh, yeah, sucks about the kid, hope they get him back. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/17 "2006-03-09T15:37:45Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] BTW, Mods, is MPSIMS where this kind of threat belongs? Because somehow it didn’t seem quite right for GD, or the Pit. Move as you think appropriate. [/QUOTE] It’s not currently a debate, but if you’d like to frame one, I’d be happy to move it. Otherwise, just as general discussion, this is fine for MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/18 "2006-03-09T16:05:35Z")
Here is a good law review article discussing some other custody and visitation restrictions based on religion, or lack of it, among other things: [http://www.law.ucla.edu/volokh/custody.pdf](http://www.law.ucla.edu/volokh/custody.pdf) (pdf) Enjoy. Or kill me. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/19 "2006-03-09T16:25:24Z")
[QUOTE=Gfactor] Here is a good law review article discussing some other custody and visitation restrictions based on religion, or lack of it, among other things: [http://www.law.ucla.edu/volokh/custody.pdf](http://www.law.ucla.edu/volokh/custody.pdf) (pdf) Enjoy. Or kill me. [/QUOTE] Well, since it’s against board rules to threaten to kill someone, I guess I’ll _have_ to enjoy it. Darn you!!! _:: Shakes Tiny Little Fist ::_ ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585/20 "2006-03-09T16:38:36Z")
[QUOTE=Ponder Stibbons] Well, since it’s against board rules to threaten to kill someone, I guess I’ll _have_ to enjoy it. Darn you!!! _:: Shakes Tiny Little Fist ::_ [/QUOTE] Well I’ve never! Shaking your [third fist](http://www.subgenius.com/bigfist/classic/classictales/3rdFIST1.html) at me. :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-judge-denies-mother-custody-because-shes-church-of-the-subgenius-member/347585.md?page=2)