147:
I am also involved in quite a few cases. I am impressed with your erudite and more educated comments. Having opinions, I choose to weigh in, just a bit.
I note that there are fathers that voluntarily choose to abandon their children. This may not be common, but it does occur without any pressure or coercion. While these are exceptional, and likely involves factors that are unique, it probably becomes a mistake to insist that a father must maintain contact when he wishes none. Perhaps he is a candidate for therapy. But doing so would gum up the works, and prevent a get when two parties are both willing.
Next – the retaliatory chaining. Sounds appropriate, after all, fair is fair. However, you know that secular law does not consider the two connected, and withholding the children or the financial support as retaliation for the other’s violation is a crime. Neither does halacha sanction it. Beis Din certainly has the authority to coerce one side to cooperate, but as with everything else done by today’s batei din, they have no enforcement authority.
Full agreement about the beating issue. We watched this become front page news in the secular media. Halacha isn’t too fond of it either, regardless of what the advocacy organizations claim.