Catholic parents seek return of daughter as Massachusetts DCF records draw scrutiny
Caroline MolloyA Massachusetts Catholic couple is continuing efforts to regain custody of their teenage daughter as additional records and public statements have brought renewed attention to the state child-welfare case.
Joseph and Arlene Kutzko say the dispute began after their daughter’s public school supported a social gender transition without their knowledge and later reported the family to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. The school district has denied the family’s allegations, calling them baseless, and state officials have disputed the parents’ account of why DCF took custody.
Records reported by the National Catholic Register and summarized by Zeale indicate that DCF later classified physical and sexual abuse allegations against the parents as “unsupported,” meaning the agency said it lacked reasonable cause to believe those allegations occurred. The agency separately classified a neglect allegation against both parents as “supported.” The parents’ attorney says the basis for that neglect finding has not been clearly explained.
The father had been charged in connection with allegations involving the daughter, and the mother later faced a witness-intimidation charge. The parents deny abusing their daughter. Prosecutors later offered pretrial probation arrangements that did not require admissions of guilt. Separate juvenile-court proceedings remain sealed.
The parents are also contesting a request involving testosterone treatment for their daughter. Their attorney says a judge has temporarily blocked the treatment pending an Oct. 29 hearing. Separately, the U.S. Department of Education announced Sept. 17 that it is investigating whether the Northborough-Southborough school district complied with federal parental-rights laws. That investigation concerns allegations and has not reached a final finding.
