Page:The Marriage Laws of Soviet Russia (1921).pdf/16

 the unhappy victims of parental disputes. If the parents agree, they may decide what religious belief shall be professed by their children under the age of 14; but in default of agreement between the parents, the children shall be considered to profess no religion until they reach an age at which they can determine the question for thmselvesthemselves [sic] (Section 148). In the case of parents living apart who cannot agree with which one the children shall live, the matter is to be decided by the local court (Section 158). Parents may not contract for the employment of any of their children betweeenbetween [sic] the ages of 16 and 18 without the child's consent (Section 157). Employment of children under 16 is forbidden by the labor laws. "Parental authority shall be exercised exclusively for the benefit of the children and in case of misuse the court may deprive the parents of their parental rights" (Section 153). Suits for the deprivation of parental rights may be brought by representatives of the government or by a private citizen. The loss of parental rights, however, does not absolve the parents from the duty of contributing to the maintenance of the children (Section 169). The obligation of the parents for the care, education and maintenance of their minor children is accompanied by an equal obligation upon mature children for the maintenance of their parents if the latter are indigent and unable to work, provided the parents are not receiving support from the government (Section 163). Beyond these mutual obligations for care and maintenance, however, there are no economic privileges established by descent. "Children have no right to