The Brethren and the law

What measures can be taken against the Exclusive Brethren? Unfortunately there is very little that can be done under the law, because one of the disadvantages of our free state is the fact that it allows parents to shape their children's religious beliefs however they wish. The Department of Child Welfare can take no action on behalf of children except by talking to parents. Most children would prefer not to bring Child Welfare to their parents' doorstep. The Education Department cannot issue studentships to students whose parents object, except by special and devious means. And children cannot be kept at school after they turn fifteen if parents are unwilling. A child may leave home at the age of 16, but until he or she is eighteen years old, the parents can bring a court case against the child. In the early 60's a Bill was introduced in Britain called The Family Preservation Bill which would have given the Government the right to remove children from their, parents where the children were under extreme religious influence. But the Bill did not get past its third reading in the House of Commons. As far as I know, that is the only attempt that has been made to take action in such cases, so a child has to endure such influence for the first eighteen years of its life, willing or unwilling. Only at eighteen can one choose the life one wants to lead.