Justice Is Served for 416 Kids of Polygamy Sect.

@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
April 29, 2008 8:12am CST
As most of you know, I've been following the Texas vs FLDS polygamy situation. It hits kind of close to home because things like this have a way of threatening religious rights generally, and since the FLDS and LDS churches both fall under the nickname "Mormon", my church always catches fallout from these situations. There is a personal connection also, my parents' neighbor was Merril Jessop's first wife... who was abandoned by him years ago, but still defends him and the FLDS way. Anyway, while I've supported a crackdown on the rampant abuse of the children in this sect, I was scared that the state of Texas abused their authority, and maybe even violated the rights of the children. From what I've read and heard so far, it looks like I was (happily) wrong about Texas' handling of this. True, the "sara" call was probably either a hoax, an FBI plant or never happened at all, but the warrants they are currently acting on aren't from the "Sara" situation. Apparently the Texas Rangers brought a judge out to the "compound" who served the warrants based on evidence found there. Not based on the 9/11 call. So, Hoo-AH to the Texas Rangers for avoiding another Waco situation, and upholding the Constitution.
7 people like this
6 responses
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
29 Apr 08
I'm surprised that some even defend the compounds practices as being "freedom of religion" - how crazy is that?!
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 Apr 08
It would have been "freedom of religion" if they continued to keep things above board. Up until the 80s, the FLDS was very careful to not give the government any reason to break the unwritten truce. They stayed in their little towns in the middle of nowhere and lived their way. No problem. It wasn't until the Jessups started running the church that things turned so ugly. Now the FLDS church is pretty much done.
2 people like this
• United States
29 Apr 08
Yep, polygamy doesn't even bother me (not a real fan of it or anything, but to each their own for the most part) but to throw kids and teenage pregnancy into that mix - it just ain't right!
3 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
30 Apr 08
I agree with you completely on this and I'm also relieved it appears they did everything by the book. I have no problem with anyone practicing whatever religion they wish but what was happening to these children is unfathomable. What was it I heard, over half of the underage girls taken from that compound were either pregnant or had already had children? Even worse, they'd all be impregnated by much older men so it wasn't a simple case of two young kids making a mistake or imagining themselves "in love", this was rape in my opinion. I could never imagine myself being in a polygamous relationship but if consenting adults choose to live that way it's not for me to judge them but when they bring innocent children in to the mix that's a whole different story. I saw some of the women from there interviewed on several different shows and it appears to me that they've clearly been brainwashed. I could be wrong but I think they've been so sheltered by the outside world they don't know any other type of lifestyle exists so it could be they don't even think anything wrong is being done to these young girls. Annie
3 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
30 Apr 08
That's the mess they're faced with. They can't charge every FLDS man with rape, nor can they charge every parent with abuse. The only ones who can be charged are crimes are those who the evidence indicates. On the other hand, how does a judge return a child to the custody of the parents if there is no documentation backing the parents' claims. For all intents and purposes, the FLDS is done. Utah is already working on dissolving the charter, which removes the church's tax exempt status and land ownership claims. The homes in Hilldale have been given to the families who live there. The leadership of the church have already been arrested and charged with crimes. The rest isn't going to be so easy.
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
1 May 08
On the one hand these people are brainwashing their children into following in their footsteps with unnatural and emotionally unhealthy interpersonal relationships. However on the other hand no one wants to be challenged on how they raise their children. When the children are well fed, healthy, and going to school when is it time for the authorities to step in and say, "oh no hold on this is wrong?" No one wants their freedom to worship God challenged either and as it is oe of the tennets upone which this wonderful country of ours is founded, they should not have their religious beliefs trod upon nor looked down upon by others who don't understand their ideaology. Religious zealots are not to be judged by the moral standards that we hold when we get a tiny glimpse into their world. Judge not lest ye be judged. The impact of the parrents religious beliefs upon the minds and lives of the children should be the issue that the State of Texas is addressing rather than a witch hunt aimed at their religious beliefs and polygamy. What I wonder is, if you claim to be a Mormon zealot and you know that polygamy and wives of an age below 18 is against the law in the state that you have chosen to live in, then why don't these people move to places where it is fine and legal?
• United States
30 Apr 08
This is great. One cult down and one more to go. There is one more cult to take down, and you all know who it is! Well, if you do not know who it is, it is Scientology, these guys have to be taken care of. You have no idea how many problems these people are causing here in California and in Florida. They are forcing abortions on pregnant women in the Sea Org, and they are forcing their beliefs on a lot of people. They are not paying taxes either.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
30 Apr 08
I lived near Clearwater back in the late 70s, early 80s. I saw what happened when Scientology bought up so many hotels and office buildings there. They declared all the properties "churches" and claimed tax exempt status. It severly reduced the tax base there. But I'm not so excited to see a "one cult down, X to go" attitude in the US. If there are legitimate charges to be levelled, and warrants are properly executed, then fine, but we don't need another witchhunt... not even for witches.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
1 May 08
The only real definition for "cult" I've found to be true is, "my religion, your cult".
1 person likes this
• United States
1 May 08
Okay, this is my definition of a cult. Any group that preaches a set of beliefs, cons people into following them, and then mistreats people or kills them while in that group. Does this sound almost or close to being correct? By the way, I also meant to add that I am glad that those children will not be in that horrible situation anymore and that they will be better taken care of.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Apr 08
I am very concerned about these children, as you know I am an adoptive/foster parent, and there are just no foster homes trained or prepared to meet the needs these children are going to bring to the plate. I feel sure Texas is doing what they feel is best for these children, and yes I agree they had to be removed for their own safety, but until they can either be placed back with their Mothers, or other arrangements are decided, they are going to have a field day trying to deal with these children. I think what they need to do is arrange for a place to house them all together, and bring in people who are specially trained in dealing with children who have been brought up in this type of "religious" situation. Keep them together, and get them the help they will need. These kids are and will be traumatized, they are going to need people around them who have an understanding of how they have been raised, and frankly, foster parents are not equiped for this.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 Apr 08
True, the current organizations aren't equipped for this. How do you "teach" a child how to be a child? These kids have never played with toys, don't know what crayons are and have been taught that outsiders are evil. Almost anything they do for these kids is going to be met with suspicion. As for the parents. Right now they are complaining because the state won't let them see their kids, but many of them haven't had anything to do with those kids for months. They were proud that their young ones were taken from them to live with Jessop. Some of them have been away from their parents since 2004. No matter what happens, those kids will be traumatized.
2 people like this
@lancingboy (1385)
• United States
1 May 08
Weren't a lot of those girls (the minors) who were taken away from the compound pregnant or already had kids? That's what the news around here seems to be saying but I don't know.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
1 May 08
Yes.