Texas Takes Legal Custody of 401 Sect Children

witchofthedogs · #1 04-07-2008, 08:59 PM

From CNN.com:

Texas takes legal custody of 401 sect children

(CNN) -- Authorities said Monday they have taken legal custody of 401 children who lived on an isolated West Texas polygamist retreat built by imprisoned "prophet" Warren Jeffs.

The children are being kept at a temporary shelter at historic Fort Concho in nearby San Angelo while authorities investigate whether a child bride gave birth on the ranch at age 15.

The children in state custody are joined at the shelter by 133 women, most of them mothers, who were taken during the past few days from the sprawling Yearning for Zion ranch, said Marleigh Meisner, a spokeswoman for the state's Child Protective Services agency.

The women are free to return to the 1,900-acre compound, officials said, but many have chosen to remain. At this point, officials said, the children's fathers are not permitted to see them.

Court proceedings began Monday to determine whether there is enough evidence to remove the children from their homes on the ranch, which is near Eldorado, Meisner said. A hearing is scheduled April 17.

The children will be appointed lawyers and legal guardians in about two weeks, she added.

Meisner said the temporary shelter is filling up quickly, and officials are

facing a "critical shortage" of foster homes. Officials will try to keep siblings together, she added.

Law enforcement officials would not provide many details of their investigation, but Meisner said the 401 court affidavits being filed Monday should shed some light on the alleged abuse.

The investigation, which began Thursday night, is continuing and authorities remain on the property to search for evidence and other children, said Tela Mange of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

One man has been arrested, allegedly for interfering with investigators. He faces a misdemeanor charge, authorities said.

Investigators said they believe more children will be found at the ranch, but Mange stopped short of saying they were being hidden.

More here: Texas takes legal custody of 401 sect children - CNN.com

I'm all for religious freedom. If you want to believe Jesus rides a pink dinosaur and slides down rainbows, all the more power to you. But when your religious practice involves incest, child rape and the like, I tend to be a bit less tolerant.

Roogle · #2 04-07-2008, 10:16 PM

If they aren't doing anything wrong. I wouldn't object to it. But the article makes it seem like something else is happening. It could just be all spin as well.

__________________
A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. - Thomas Jefferson

witchofthedogs · #3 04-08-2008, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roogle

If they aren't doing anything wrong. I wouldn't object to it. But the article makes it seem like something else is happening. It could just be all spin as well.

There have been complaints by former members of child abuse, child marriages and widespread incest within the cult, and both Warren Jeffs (the leader) and another male member have been charged (and convicted, I believe) of marrying children under the age of 16 and of child abuse.

Part of the problem is that women and children in the organization are permitted little to no contact with the outside world (no phone, no travel off the compound, etc.) and there are few legal records (birth/ death certificates, etc.) with respect to these children. Therefore, proving they even exist is difficult.

Texas Takes Legal Custody of 401 Sect Children

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