Court Rules Catholic Woman Has To Raise Stepson as Orthodox Jew

By Elissa Strauss May 20, 2010

Divorce is never easy, and mixing in the rules of Orthodox Judaism certainly doesn’t make it easier. But that’s precisely what happened when Laura Derbigney became entangled in a custody battle between her Catholic husband and his Jewish ex-wife over the ex-couple’s 7-year-old son.

Derbigney, a Chicago resident, is being forced by a court to raise her stepson as an Orthodox Jew, the religion of his mother, the state’s local NBC affiliate is reporting. But Derbigney, a Hispanic Catholic, says that not being allowed to drive on Saturdays and being forced to avoid pork just doesn’t feel kosher.

Watch a video with Derbigney after the jump

“I have to purchase certain products. I prefer minority-owned stores. I’m Hispanic and Catholic. I make enchiladas. Flautas. Now I’m being ridiculed for making food I grew up with,” she told NBC. “I thought there was a difference between church and state. Because [the boy’s birth mother is] a Hasidic Jew, I have to live live as Hasidic Jew, too?”

Derbigney is currently fighting the ruling, saying it goes against the First Amendment. “The next step is going to be a Muslim father with custody. During the next visitation, is the mother going to have to wear a burka? That’s where we’re heading. Divorce courts have to stop getting in the way of religion,” said Derbigney’s lawyer, Joel Brodsky.

The boy’s biological mother is prevented from commenting on the case due to a gag order.

Elissa Strauss has written for the Forward over a number of years. She is a regular contributor to CNN, whose work has been published in a number of publications including The New York Times, Glamour, ELLE, and Longreads.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO