Coerced church attendance--anecdotes needed

[Thomas Disch's LJ (RSS Feed)]

I may be doing a novel that begins with an incident on the above theme, and have been trying to research with Google's help. I got links to various atheist web-sites, and all the advice offered to the various teens asking what their rights in the matter might be was along the lines they didn't have any so they betterswallow their pride and attend the rites. My own experience at age 15 was that after a few weeks of simple not going to church i declared myself to be an atheist and was was sent to Father X at the local rectory to be hectored. I was happy, as ever, to enter a disputation, but he didn't persuade me (nor I him) but I got a pass to stay away from Mass on Sunday. But not all kids are so lucky. I am curious to know (1) what is the most drastic form of coercion anyone has ever been put to, or heard of, and (2) if kids under 18 (or 21?) have any legal rights with regard to freedom of religion. What if, for instance, you parents were Wiccans? Or Christian Scientists who wanted to prevent your seeking health services. That must happen all the time. Is child/parent divorce a possibility?

(Original Post) (http://tomsdisch.livejournal.com/180235.html)