FLDS mediation possible
"Warren's people do not recognize the judge's stand-down," Stephanie Colgrove, a former member of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, said of sect leader Warren Jeffs' followers.
Colgrove was one of several ex-FLDS members who went to the meeting of the Safety Net Committee in St. George on Thursday to complain about how they are being treated by members of the polygamous sect. She said she signed an agreement to occupy a Hildale home on UEP land that was abandoned by an FLDS member, who showed up on her doorstep a few weeks ago to demand it back.
Others also said they have been told to get out.
"I don't need to have to be worried that somebody's going to come knock down the door and start packing up my stuff," Colgrove told the committee.
Some complained about harassment by FLDS members and vandalism over property issues. Andrew Chatwin said he tried to take his sick boy to a pair of FLDS-run clinics for help. He was turned away.
"They offered an ambulance service. That was the only thing they offered," he said. "Their argument is their practice is full."
"We live in the community and would like to be treated as citizens," he told the committee.
The Safety Net Committee, a coalition of government agencies, social service workers, activists and members of Utah's fundamentalist communities, is considering trying to help mediate the disputes through a subcommittee bringing FLDS members and ex-members to the same table to talk.
"These are things that we need to be mediated. When you bring lawyers to the table, it's adversarial," said Mary Batchelor, a committee member and director of the pro-polygamy group Principle Voices. "If you want to have an open community with respect, then mediation is needed."
The UEP Trust, the real estate holdings arm of the FLDS Church, controls homes and property in Hildale and Colorado City. It was taken over by the Utah courts in 2005 over allegations that FLDS leaders mismanaged it. A judge appointed a court-appointed special fiduciary to manage it and signed an order reforming it, doing away with the communal property nature of it in lieu of private property ownership.
For years, FLDS members were silent on the changes but have recently made legal challenges to the trust. The legal challenges are on hold while lawyers for FLDS members, the UEP and the attorney general's office engage in settlement talks. Utah Attorney General's spokesman Paul Murphy said some concerns have been taken to attorneys representing some FLDS members.
"We're trying to negotiate a settlement that protects the rights of the FLDS people and the rights of the people who have homes," he said.
Safety Net Committee coordinator Pat Merkley said they would help to find solutions.
"We will work to help you and hear you out," she said.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
Recent comments
appostate - you are obviously FLDS, or ex-FLDS, or you definately...
re appostate and deci | Dec. 9, 2008 at 2:35 p.m.
appostate, then pack up and leave! Why are you there in the first...
deci | Dec. 9, 2008 at 9:13 a.m.
Thank you Ben for stating the facts and not letting your personal...
freemen | Dec. 5, 2008 at 7:05 p.m.
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