Hiding behind the cloak of religion.

Well, in the Bible, it says that you shall not commit adultery. Having more than one relationship or marriage at a time is adultery...so, if they are trying to hide behind religious beliefs I don't think it's right what so ever. To truly love someone and live with that person takes so much committment and how could you solely give yourself to fifty people. Your heart is to be given to one person and you are to love them solely. i've always had a problem with people thinking that it's okay to marry more than one person at a time or people who cheat on the one they are married to. Marriage is between ONE man, ONE woman. Not one man and fifty woman. It really irriates me to no end what all is going on in this world we are bringing our children in and up in. God bless

It amazes me that certain groups can sue Bible believing Christians who have only one spouse because they will not promote immorality, and yet here is this polygamous group that the Human Rights Commission will not touch. The government itself has to press charges. And guess what the Human Rights Commission and their Kangaroo court will get them off, while the real Christians get fined. One should always obey God rather than man. It is not the case of hiding behind the cloak of religious freedom - for Christians there is no freedom in Canada, but doing what God says and God said one man and one woman, not one man and multiple women. Oh if the government decides to say that all Christians have to work at jobs other than those of mercy or necessity on Sunday, and they refuse, would that be a case of hiding behind the cloak of religious freedom?

Thank you for acknowledging that these men are an off shoot of the Mormon religion. So many times people get mixed up and think that Mormons practice polygamy. Polygamy is a big problem in the western U.S. It is against the law and sometimes they are brought before the courts, but there are so many of them that most states just leave them alone. I believe if it is illegal to practice polygamy, then it should not be allowed. No one should be allowed to break the law just because he says his religion says differently. In the Mormon Church members are told to obey the law of the land. I think everyone should.

How can a person afford fifty wives? I bet you the government is providing welfare for them. There are so many people using religion to justified their nonsense.

where ever do they get that idea??God made adam one wife from his one rib wonder what man would look like if he had taken all of his ribs????LOL

I don't know much about mormons nor do I care about such retarded men, but I'm seeing many of you referring to Islam as an example here, so I'm going to clarify some things. I know that islam does allow up to four wives, but that's NOT the end of the story. Unlike those fundamentalist mormons that are having as many as they want and making them live in whatever conditions they want, etc, there are a LOT of rules the men in Islam have to obey to be allowed more than one wife, and the most important one is having the woman's approval. Even when the girl is the first wife, if she doesn't want the marriage then it is declared invalid, illegal and the man loses his religious right for the marriage. That's right! The woman has the utmost control over whether or whether not allowing her husband to marry others, or even marrying him at all, there is no such thing as "forced marriages" - even though there are some cases which that happen, especially in fundamentalist-like societies like lets say the KSA, both the holy qur'aan and prophet Mohammed have stated very clearly that any marriage in which the woman was forced into is considered invalid (as if it never happened), the man is condoned to be doing adultery and abuse, and both him and whoever else participated in this misleaded conduct will be fiercely punished for it in the afterlife. Many of these jerks might overlook this now, but they're going to end up with a hell of a punishment later on, and it IS punished by the law if caught, by the way. Other than even that, there are OTHER rules as well. Which include, 'after' his first wife agrees for him to marry a second one, he HAVE to give both of them good living conditions, in which they are comfortable and wouldn't be forced to live in poverty. Those that aren't financially able are NOT allowed such marriages, because it will force the wives to live in misery. And to marry a third he has to have the contensity of both the first and second, etc. And on top of that, he HAVE to treat ALL of them with equality and never favor one over the other; if he gives one something he has to do the same for the others, since it would hurt them emotionally if they're neglected and only one of them gets his attention. The heart might fall for one and only one more than the others, but he's not allowed to show such favorism; anything that would hurt the others is not religiously allowed, he have to hide it in and treat them equally. After all of that, the only ones that actually would go through all those headaches are either the rich jerks that simply don't give a damn and all they want is their personal pleasure, or simply just jerks that make their wives lead hard lives and for what? Because they want as many children as possible. There are some men that three, four or even five or six kids aren't enough for them, and want much much more. I call them jerks not because of that, but because such lowlives hardly give their kids the fatherly attention they need and leave ALL the hardwork on the poor mothers that have to do everything while their husband is almost never home. IT's as if they're bringing in more kids just to brag. There are other factors as well, but I hope this is good enough to clarify your obviously misleaded and wrong views about the marriage system in Islam. It is not the system that is at fault, it is the people that misuse it that need a spanking!

No definitely not. Till a person lives off a society and in a nation, whatever he or she does has to have an implication on the entire society and the nation at large. We all speak of fundamental rights, how many of us are aware of our fundamental duties? Each religion has its own rules and regulation but for a plural society to function peacefully, there should be general guidelines which everybody should abide by. That is the reason we all have civil laws apart from religious laws. It should be everybody's fundamental duty of each one of us, to abide by uniform civil laws in the best interest of the nation. Pandering to such irresponsible demands will only harm society and fragment the nation.

Hi- as a Minister and Christian the answer is quite simple..NO!! What they are attesting to is just that..RELIGION. A walk with God and perhaps a RIGHT to note HIM as a foundation to a decision is having SALVATION not religion. When and IF you know the Lord certainly you wouldn't act in such a manner that denounces all that is right and good. Even in Genesis, the Garden of Eden, God made EVE for ADAM-- not EVE and 49 of her sisters! All who say "Lord, Lord" will not enter in. Someone's word just isn't worth what it used to be. But we can only pray for those who need it and hopefully lead them to truth. If you take spirituality out of the entire situation - it doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure out that this is both immoral and a little one sided- all for the man! I'd say they were suffering from incredibly blown out ego issues and need a reality check and to spend a LOT more time on their knees praying instead of on their backs with a harem! May God bless you and fill you with wisdom to know the truth for yourself.

I would say that they need to be left alone, especially if they can find 50 women dumb enough to live this way and to put up with a man like that.. The only problem with that is some of the "so-called" wives are too young to be in this situation.. I have seen the reports of some off these ignorant men who prey off the ignorance of some women and in turn are no different than child molesters or rapists.. I don't believe that even if forced I would ever give into this type of "man" and I use that word loosly.. It isn't a real man, when he takes advantage of people, especially young people..

Bizarre isn't it? Churches have always been seperated from civil law all down through the ages. They seem to hold some special sanctity under god. But, to me,God doesn't even enter into it. It is politics and demented power struggle almost. To me it is like the amount of legal respect that is given to outlaws in this world. First,they are innocent until proven guilty, then they are able to congest the judicial systems with their appeals just for time. The people of Bountiful can have a say in whether they go back there are not. I guess it ends up being what do the people in the area want? Are they concervative or liberal? What do they want in their area? Are they of the same believe or?? It will go as far as they let it. If someone steps forward and takes a stand then maybe something will be done. But if all stay silent- I doubt anything will happen.

Well first and foremost I don't think that any religion should defy the laws of the land. I am a Christian and I know that if I break mans law then God is not happy. If we were all able to hide behind the cloak of religion we could then invent new relgions to do whatever we like. I do not feel that this is proper. I feel no matter what relgion it is they should follow the laws of the land. If they don't like them move where you can do it.

As far as I know Mormons are a polygamous sect within the orthodox church. Aren't they? If Canadian Government is able to enforce its laws- I do not know what freedoms are guaranteed by the Canadian constitution to individuals in matters of faith, but if Canada is declared a secular democratic republic with any minorities, given guarantees for practicing their faith as in India, then Courts will haveacquit these two persons and they are not likely to land in prison. But this can begin a pernicious trend for those wanting to practice polygamy, to "convert" to the Mormon Church, unless of course they are a closed sect, and there is no possibility of entering their religion through conversion or marriage like in Parsis in India or the Jews of Israel. In India esp. in the film land people change their religion to Islam to practice polygamy. But according to Indian law, if there is no complaint from the wives and the person is not a Government servant there is no way of prosecuting the errant citizen. Likewise I feel this should be left to the individual family to deal with.

Are the guilty only men in this case? Did the wives not know about about women. Surely these polygamist couldn't have set up 50 different homes. here is a interesting study: A very recent study conducted in UK has shown that men practicing polymamy had lived for more years than law abiding men. This reiligious sect may have strong scientific roots.(LOL)

never , the religions are just a mere superstition men should go for the right way and that is by following law

They shouldn't bring religion in their sins. In no relaigion it says that you can have 50 wives. In Islam, it says if you cannot justify with your present wife then you must not marry another one. Religion asks for justification & these sick people they destroy lives in the name of religion. Holy cow!!!!!!!!!

I wonder how so many women can be foolish enough to marry one man!! And I wonder how that one man can handle so many wives. Polygamy is quite an accepted way of life in some cultures, though with the way the economy is right now, I wonder how people can afford it. Cheers and happy Mylotting

ok we have, equal rights, religious freedom, separation of church and state, How many more contradicting laws law apply to this case. (One needs to be a lawyer to respond to this Post)On what charge were they arrested? Was it Child Molesting, (for marrying an under age girl?)When both bride and groom are Mormons, could a child molesting charge apply? If religion is really free, can these men be arrested under these circumstances?

What is up with some men that think it's 'fun' to have a lot of wives???? How do they afford it? What do they do about jealousy?? I agree that they hide behind religion to have their 'fun', if that's what they think it is. Sounds like a big headache to me, lol!

50 wives? Oh wow a lucky guy. I always had a fantasy tohave a 1000 wives. Alas! i have but one. Honestly. What is wrong if tehguy has 50 wives and none of them have a complaint against him? problem arises when one of the wives has a complaint aginst himfor marrying someone else. As along as they are all happy together, the law shoudlnto interfere intheir happiness. They are doing no harm to anyone sowhat is the problem?

Cool. I want my own cult. Then I can do all kinds of selfish things to get my needs met. And call it my religion.