Child welfare protection vs. parental rights has been a controversial issue for years in the Legislature. But it blew up this summer over the Parker Jensen case. Daren and Barbara Jensen took their 12-year-old son Parker to Idaho after they questioned Parker's cancer diagnosis, and the state went to court in an effort to force treatment.

Now, some 50 proposed bills dealing with parental rights and child welfare are expected to be introduced in the 2004 Legislature in January.

"It's not just the Jensens," said Hansen. "There are hundreds of cases out there. We have to stop this harassing of families. Stop the kidnapping of our children. We have to tell doctors to stop supporting misdiagnoses, for they are aiding and abetting DCFS. Some people are afraid to take their injured children to hospitals for treatment, afraid the state will take their children away."

Hansen declined to say which public officials' homes his group will visit.

"We have a list. We don't want to warn them. We want them home," he said. "We're going to give them a candle, ask them to stop this. And then we're going to pass out fliers in their neighborhoods so their neighbors will know what is going on."

Said Bleak: "We need to support our public officials in making these tough decisions like child custody. I'm sure our legislators will be glad to make an appointment to meet with Accountability Utah on Dec. 26 or some other appropriate day. Maybe DCFS makes some mistakes. But there are certainly times where it is appropriate for the state to step in — and the Legislature has to draw up those guidelines."

Bleak said the Utah Republican Party itself will take no action against any party member — even if he holds a party office — who may participate in the Christmas Day protest.

"We believe in freedom of speech," he said. "Although I'm sure most party members would not agree with doing this on Christmas Day."

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com