School takes child for sex change without informing mother; implications of this year’s annual Fortnight for Freedom

Erick Kaardal
Thomas More Society

On May 23, 2017, a Federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Minnesota mother whose parental rights were violated by a Minnesota school system, and state and county agencies. Anmarie Calgaro, parental rights were repeatedly usurped because her son was advised by defendants that he was emancipated, and was subsequently provided with medical treatment for a sex change from male to female and prescribed narcotics. Calgaro was also denied access to his medical and school records and was refused any input into her son’s educational decision-making.


United States District Court Judge Paul A. Magnuson wrote that, although Calgaro’s parental rights over her minor son “remain intact,” she has no standing to sue for their violation.

Tuesday we will have Anmarie’s attorney, Erick Kaardal, special counsel with the Thomas More Society, who will discuss the case and the ultimate appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Erick is past Chairman of the John Adams Society and an Advisory Board Member of the Minnesota Chapter of the Federalist Society. He has also been recognized by the Institute for Justice for an Outstanding Contribution to the Cause of Liberty. He is also co-author of two books including Neopopulism as Counterculture available on amazon.com.

After visiting with Erick we’ll welcome a returning guest, Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie, who writes and speaks about Catholicism, religious freedom, and the intersection of faith and science for The Catholic Association. As a Hispanic, she brings a special focus on social issues that affect the growing Latino population, such as the state of the family and the real needs of the poor and marginalized.  As a physician, she is able to address complex subjects relating to government health policy and its true impact on the people it purports to help.

Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie
The Catholic Association

Dr. Christie will be discussing the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s (USCCB) annual Fortnight for Freedom and her recent article “Embracing 2017’s Fortnight for Freedom” in Real Clear Religion. Each year dioceses around the country arrange special events to highlight the importance of defending religious freedom. The Fortnight for Freedom is from June 21—the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day.

In announcing this year’s Fortnight, the USCCB wrote: “In this time of increasing polarization in our culture, we can contribute to a better understanding of religious freedom in a way that respects all people.” It has also produced a short guide to help Christians speak with friends and neighbors about religious freedom and work to clear up misconceptions about it.

So, join Deacon Mike Manno and Pam Briddell this Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. (Central) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. Podcasts of earlier programs can be found on the station’s website here.

FOT is on the air courtesy of our loyal sponsors and underwriters: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday; and Robert Cota, Farm Bureau FinancialServices, 200 West 2nd Ave., Indianola, Iowa 50125, 515-961-4555 or 515-205-5642.

And remember, we will not have a new program for next week – July 4 – but when we return July 11 we will be at our new time: 10 a.m. Central.