Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown Economy
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations Civil Rights
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad News
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health
Fox 32 TV News reporter Dane Placko

Parental custody rights revoked from unvaccinated ex-wife

Posted on August 30, 2021August 30, 2021 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Parental custody rights revoked from unvaccinated ex-wife
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Parental custody rights revoked from unvaccinated ex-wife

FOX 32 TV News report by reporter Dane Placko details how a Cook County Judge revoked the parenting rights of a Chicago mother because she refused to get vaccinated. The FOX 32 TV News report from Placko has been re-reported by news stations and media across the country

By Ray Hanania

A Chicago mother had her parenting rights revoked by a Cook County judge on August 10 because she was not vaccinated for the coronavirus, according to a FOX 32 TV News story.

Rebecca Firlit, according to FOX 32 TV News, was participating in a child support hearing via Zoom with her ex-husband and Judge James Shapiro when the judge asked about the mother’s COVID vaccination status.

The father is vaccinated and has custody of the couple’s 11-year-old son.

When Ms. Firlit told the judge that she did not take the vaccination saying she had adverse reactions to other vaccines and vaccines, the judge ordered that she be stripped of her parental rights until she receives the vaccine.

 

Although more than 52 percent or 173 million Americans have received both vaccinations, while 62 percent or 204 million Americans have received at least one of the double vaccinations, many of the remaining Americans have been anti-vaxxers arguing that receiving the vaccinations should be a choice and not mandated.

Fox 32 TV News reporter Dane Placko
Fox 32 TV News reporter Dane Placko. Photo courtesy of Fox 32 TV News video report

Ms. Firlit’s attorney denounced the decision, according to FOX TV’s news report by reporter Dan Placko, which has been picked up but news media around the country. The attorney said that the judge’s decision was “wrong.” She said that Judge Shapiro did not have the authority to make that ruling.

But Chicago attorney Jeffery Leving, who is representing the father and was interviewed by Placko, when asked about the ruling, told FOX 32 TV News, said the decision reflected concern for the child’s health.

“There are children who have died because of COVID. I think every child should be safe, and I agree that the mother should be vaccinated,” Leving told FOX 32 TV News.

Dads' Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving. Specializing in Fathers' Rights, Family Law, Child custody, divorce proceddings
Dads’ Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving. Specializing in Fathers’ Rights, Family Law, Child custody, divorce proceddings

Data shows that more than 637,000 Americans have died after contracting the COVID virus during the 20-month long pandemic. More than 38 million Americans have been infected. There have been more than 26,400 deaths in Illinois, as of data August 28, 2021.

Although the largest age group who have died because of the COVID virus, more than two-thirds, have been seniors 65 years and older. Only a small percentage of people under the age of 18 have died from coronavirus infection during the pandemic which began in December 2019. But, Leving argued, “every life matters.”

Asked about the potential health risks, Leving said that it “is always better to be cautious with young people than to take a chance.”

The Pfizer vaccine has received FDA approval while vaccines by Moderna and John & Johnson are expected to receive FDA approval soon.

The case is now before the Illinois Appellate court.

Leving concentrates in Father’s Rights at www.DadsRights.com. To view the FOX 32 TV News video story, click this link.

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown - October 30, 2025
  • Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations - October 30, 2025
  • Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad - October 30, 2025
NPV: 75
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Cook County, coronavirus, General Topics, Law, News, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:attorney Jeffery Leving, child custody, Coronavirus, COVID, ex-wife, FOX 32, Judge James Shapiro, parenting rights, TV News, vaccination

Post navigation

Previous Post: Lipinski and Hanania launch the “Two Guys on Politics” Podcast
Next Post: Right from the Middle: Reagan, the Contras and the launch of the CTA Orange Line

Related Posts

  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Exclusive interview with Orland Mayor Jim Dodge says former mayor left huge debt breaking news
  • Ray Hanania on Politics podcast logo
    Podcast: The Politics of Massacres, race in America and are we great? Blogger
  • Rainbow PUSH Saturday morning forums resume March 16, 2024
    Rainbow PUSH resumes Saturday morning forums starting March 16 Civil Rights
  • Supervisor Paul O'Grady on stage with pet contest winners at the 8th annual Pet-Palooza in 2019.
    Orland Township raises the ‘Woof’ at Pet-Palooza 2021! Entertainment
  • Refat and Miriam Zayed. Photo courtesy of the Zayed family
    Miriam Zayed passing mourned by Chicagolands Arab, Muslim community Blogger
  • Lisa Hernandez Responds to Governor’s State of the State: Cost of Living is My Top Priority  Economy

More Related Articles

Lyons Mayor Chris Getty. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Vehicle owners get a break News
Wolves hockey game at Allstate Arena. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Chicago Wolves win over Texas Stars leading AHL Central Division 12 to 1 Chicago
Chicago Wolves Artyom Serikov courtesy of the Chicago Wolves Strong rally lifts Chicago Wolves to victory over Grand Rapids Griffins Chicago
Face mask signs posted by businesses in Orland Park that are demonstrating concern and leadership is helping to suppress the spread of the coronavirus. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Governor Pritzker Announces COVID-19 Vaccination Website Cook County
Local governments not responsible for flooding Opinion
Congressman Sean Casten Illinois AFL-CIO Endorses Sean Casten for Re-Election Cook County

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown
    October 30, 2025
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations
    October 30, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad
    October 30, 2025
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme