US News
State takes custody of 416 children from polygamous sect
Apr 19, 2008, 14:47 GMT
Washington - A Texas court on Friday temporarily took custody of 416 children removed from a remote compound in where an obscure religious sect practiced polygamy, the Fort-Worth Star Telegram newspaper reported online.
Texas Child Protective Services Division had argued that a 'pervasive pattern' of sexual abuse and forced marriage involving underaged girls justified its custody request.
The agency removed the children earlier this month from the Yearning For Zion Ranch, in Schleicher County in West Texas, about 300 kilometres north-west of San Antonio. The compound is populated by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints, a renegade branch of the Mormon Church, which has banned polygamy for more than a century.
More than 20 girls among those taken from the compound were pregnant or had young children, the newspaper quoted an agency investigator as saying.
In moving forward with its case, the state planned to do DNA testing to determine which children belonged to which mothers, CNN reported.
An investigation into the compound was launched in late March, when a 16-year-old girl allegedly told a domestic violence hotline that she was forced to marry a middle-aged man, who had beaten and raped her repeatedly over more than a year.
But officials have been unable to locate the girl, and on Friday state police said they were investigating a Colorado woman not involved in the sect who may have made the phone call as a hoax.
FLDS members began settling the compound about four years ago, mostly moving from mountain states where the sect is based.
The group's leader and self-proclaimed prophet, Warren Jeffs, was convicted last year in Utah of being an accomplice to rape, and was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison. He coerced a 14-year-old girl in an FLDS community there to marry and have sex with her 19- year-old cousin.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
The POOP did not talk about it, did he?
HYPOCRITES ARE FRIENDS OF HYPOCRITES!
They practice, what they believe in, at least they are not like rest of the christianity, that asks to turn the other cheek, but attack other peaceful nations with all the power they can.
Seems like those wackos from texass have a lot in common with the amish, muslims, zionists and even jerry lee lewis. I believe in the burn'em alive method to take care of this problem, just like the solution used in waco.
Now that all the children have been confiscated as property of the state, it would be a great time to drop a few WMDs on the stadium to prevent future breeding, and of course to take out their their temple and all the adults too. They damn well better conform to Baptist evangelical theology or to hell with them all. Freedom certainly don't mean living down on the farm, doing whatever you want, believing in whatever you want. That's going way too far to tolerate. If lynching was still legal we could have centainly taken care of the situation awile ago, before they multiplied like breeding rabbits.
No need to feel any sorrow, since these heretics ain't going to heaven with Jesus in the Rapture anyway. They will be left behind with all the Jews, muslims, buddhists, hindus, cao dai cultists, atheists, agnostics, blacks, and native americans. Jesus only wants the chosen ones with him.
Freedom of religion in so-called united states? Terrible police state! Human rights abuse! Child snatchers!
...because Dan, if it were Clinton who was in office he would have had Janet 'Buck' Reno send her FBI storm troopers in and murder them, men, women and children, just like they did at Waco and Dan...pay attantion here...that was jst over one bullsh-t gun charge! What this means is that you are just-a-little-more-than-full of crap.
Bush's state? Thank god...
Liberals...too many goddamn people die when they try to be nice.
The usual idiot above finds it necessary to blame the Waco tragedy on who else but Clinton .As if the guy is personally involved with everything happening in the USA ,some kind of omnipotent God for SP4 I guess...This is what happens when a person is brainwashed .Normal people don't just jump to such erratic conclusions.
If these people want to live in their own community, fine, but when it comes to abusing children, etc., then they should be held up to the law.
Most communes like this are inhabited with people who can't live in a normal society and are misfits - lemmings if you will, who are easily influenced by a so-called, self-appointed master. But the children are innocent and should be protected.
ithink you have the amish confused with another religion , they are extremely careing people who very forgiving , they are peaceful and not religious extremest .
No child should ever be hurt or allowed to remain in a potentially threatening situation. These children should be granted the right of safety and protection under the supervision of the state until a thorough investigation can be completed. It appears that the state of Texas has acted appropriately under the circumstances, and should be commended for the expediency in which they have responded to the situation. Many of the responses on this web-site give the hint that 'Christians'' religious rights are being taken away, but what about the kids? Do they not have rights? It takes psycho people to believe that the religious freedom of this organization to live as they choose, uninhibited and without consequence, is of more importance than the safety and wellbeing of innocent and helpless children. Yes - people should be allowed to engage in their own religious freedom, so long as it does not compromise the life, liberty, or property of another human being. While I strongly believe in religious freedom, I am appalled at the idea that this investigation constitutes religious persecution. This is NOT an issue of religion, but rather one of alleged abuse. One which should and is being taken very seriously.
STAND UP FOR THE KIDS. THEY'RE WORTH THE INVESTMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
I applaud your statement!!! Very well said!! :)
page: 1
danApr 19th, 2008 - 15:33:21
the presidents home state.
what more could the expect...?
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