Questioner | 2:05 p.m. April 7, 2008
They have no guns or weapons, and they are cooperating well with authorities...this doesn't sound like criminals to me. The pictures that I have seen show some bright and healthy children, nothing indicating abuse in any way.
Travesty | 2:24 p.m. April 7, 2008
This is starting to look more and more like a travesty of justice.

Why are they taking every single child away?

They still haven't produced the complaining witness. This is just a misuse of power, pure and simple.
Zieg Heil! | 2:46 p.m. April 7, 2008
Watching mothers and children being led away by law enforcement reminds me of one thing: the gestapo in Nazi Germany.
Comments continue below
Angered | 2:52 p.m. April 7, 2008
Sad that only one reporter was really demanding answers from those two stooges at the press conference. He was the only one pointing out the travesty of justice that this situation is. 401 children were all abused?!!

The fathers are being confined without warrant or arrest, the children have been taken without merit. And most troubling was there was absolutely no transparency from the two at the press conference. We the people demand answers and all we got was, "I can't disclose that information at this time."

How is it that the fathers that are supposed to be these violent abusers of children showed virtually no resistance to their children being ripped from their arms? Isn't abuse about control? I applaud those fathers for keeping their cool, I know I certainly wouldn't.
Split emotions | 2:46 p.m. April 7, 2008
Given the long history these communes have had for child abuse, I can see the concern about abuse in this case. But is it truly necessary to gather up over 200 women - many adults - in such a case? Where does this search warrant end? I don't support the FLDS, but I am concerned with government overreach in this case.
Long | 3:11 p.m. April 7, 2008
THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL? what if there was not even a phone call! what if this is just a reasen to see inside the Ranch? I just hope people stand up. people in the united states. this Question's all of our Religous Right's!
ImHereIncognito | 3:12 p.m. April 7, 2008
I am absolutely appalled at the lack of indignation and uproar from the public for Protective Services of Texas, acting on an obviously anonymous complaint, going in and detaining a whole town! How can one unsubstantiated complaint result in the detention of 401 children from various families? How can this be tolerated? Where is the American Civil Liberties Union and their attorneys, or are they truly as misnamed as we have all heard? How does that saying go? They came for the Fundamentalists, but I was not one, so I held my peace. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not Jewish, so I did nothing. And then they came for me. It also concerns me that one bus I saw hauling off the people of this community said First Baptist Church. After seeing the level of Bigotry they are capable of, and their contemptuous disdain for other religions, some even calling the Catholic Church a "Cult", it is difficult to believe this is not religious persecution. Our constitution is supposed to protect us from this kind of government procedures. However, if we all remain silent, there will be no protection for any of us!
therese | 3:25 p.m. April 7, 2008
I have recently finished Carolyn Jessop's memoir titled ESCAPE. I heartily recommend it to anyone who thinks that religious rights have been violated.
Human rights of women, their children and men who are judged "unworthy" by the FLDS hierarchy are the real issue here! I was shocked at the depth and extent of the brainwashing this cult has perpetrated against its members. This case is much more complex than is being represented in the news reports.
Oddword | 3:37 p.m. April 7, 2008
You know, for the most part, I dislike FLDS and others like them, and I wouldn't generally defend them, but I'm with the others that say this could really be very serious. When the dust settles, there had better be some REALLY good answers and reasoning behind all of what these officials are doing, or else I am going to be one of the folks who sees to it that heads roll and things are made right.
Texas justice | 3:36 p.m. April 7, 2008
It reminds me of the mothers, children, and old men being led away to the concentration camps in Nazi Germany. Where is the justice?
Re: Violent abusers? | 3:41 p.m. April 7, 2008
I haven't seen any reports that describe the abuse as violent.

Sexual abuse doesn't have to be violent in order to be abuse. The victims may show no outward signs of abuse or may even appear to be unresisting participants. That doesn't prove the victims haven't been abused.

There have been way too many eye-witness accounts from underaged victims of these arranged marriages for authorities to simply turn a blind eye when a complaint has been registered.

Given the very strict control of the youth within the FLDS community, any instance of a young pregnant girl must be investigated by authorities to determine whether the circumstances involve sexual abuse.

If the girl's parents are complicit in allowing an arranged marriage for their underage daughter to occur, who else does the girl have to turn to for help but the state?
Tinfoil hats, anyone? | 3:36 p.m. April 7, 2008
The very fact that this DOES concern the FLDS and the Fundamentalist Mormons, means that ANY child's complaint must be taken seriously.

The Texans down here don't take kindly to child abuse....and this will expose the Mormon Fundamentalists for exactly what they are.
To Angered | 3:48 p.m. April 7, 2008
In answer to your first question, NO.
In answer to your second question. No abusers have been arrested, you're making things up.
In answer to your third question. YES

"I know I certainly wouldn't" True, you open mouth and blaze away, don't you?

I got my information by reading the local newspaper, several of them from different reporters. I discounted that which was non-repeatable and didn't try to read more into it than was there. You should do the same.

Texas DPS, the best there are.
They have a search warrant. | 3:48 p.m. April 7, 2008
If a search warrant is served on your house, you will not be allowed to leave while that is going on. The men will be allowed to leave once the search is complete. Split emotions, you also missed the point that the women have gone with these children voluntarily and are free to leave at any time. The only ones taken under the court order were the children.
Park City Resident | 3:50 p.m. April 7, 2008
Too bad our own attorney general doesn't have the guts to give the children here in Utah the same protection.


mwudo | 3:54 p.m. April 7, 2008
This whole thing was handled terribly. We all know how successful WACO was. I'm saddened they entered their temple also, I sure hope all this was warrented by something other than a would-be prank caller. Obviously there have been problems with abuse in the FLDS church and I'm not defending what has gone on that we know of, but where was the humanity in this? Wouldn't it have been better to address the isolated incident than tearing everybody out and then try to find the needle in the haystack while the pressure to not tell is huge when EVERYBODY is together?
magnus | 3:56 p.m. April 7, 2008
I am fairly certain that if you rounded up 400 children from any middle class neighborhood in America you would find at least 18 who showed signs of abuse and neglect, in fact I would bet that the number would be much higher. This whole situation reeks of a govornmental abuse of power.

That being said, here is the thing that I cannot understand.

It is very apparent from the history and recent prosecution of polygamists that the law either doesn't care or can't do much if you are JUST practicing polygamy. If that is the case then why do these men INSIST on continuing to marry girls under the legal age of consent.

Personaly, I think the fact that polygamy is illegal is a joke, but if you can't wait until your future wife/wives are over 16 or even 18 to marry her then you have earned whatever "Persecution" you get.

See The Book of Mormon, Jacob 2:31-33 It seems ramarkably suited to this particular situation.
Andy | 4:04 p.m. April 7, 2008
As I read all the comments so far, I am wondering who of any of you have been given all the facts of this case? I am not in any way condoning anything that has happened, but I do know that a case like this a DA would have to be very selective of what they do or say to avoid a lawsuit. It is not uncommon to have a press confrence like this and not be able to release all the details.

Lets just wait until we hear all the details until we start to complain. I for one still have faith in our law enforcement and try my best to give them the benifit of the doubt.
Bayou Vol | 4:10 p.m. April 7, 2008
This is a huge abuse of judicial power by a district judge in TX. They are justifying the detention and separation of dozens of families with arguably probable cause relating to one/two of the possible inhabitants. The mere existence of these persons in the compund does not create evidence sufficient to support probable cause for detention. I hope there is an army of attorneys willing to stand in the honest defense of these people. I do not agree with their beliefs, but this screams of habeas corpus, religious discrimination, bad faith execution of a warrant, abuse of judicial authority, and possibly a litany of other possible constitutional violations. Absolutely horrendous abuse of the authorities constitutional discretion. I can hardly believe this is happening and am incensed at the ramifications of the actions taken. I think those people with some understanding of the FLDS's beliefs should rise to the defense of this group of families. I do not condone the abuse of children nor the violation of law, but this is beyond egregious.
Please Explain | 4:13 p.m. April 7, 2008
Something doesn�t add up here... The original estimates were 300-400 people at the compound. They�ve now removed some 400 women and children. That doesn�t leave very many men, but even if the population estimate was incorrect and there�s still a couple hundred men there, how is it that a mere handful of men could build an entire city, complete with a utilities infrastructure, not to mention a temple as well, and still have any time left for low and filthy habits of sexual abuse against young girls?
Kevin in Texas | 4:10 p.m. April 7, 2008
This is a very heavy handed move by the state of Texas. I think it is uncalled for! I want to see some justification as to their abuse claims. What a perposterous situation for these people.
Canadian | 4:19 p.m. April 7, 2008
I can't believe the heading of the news report "401 children rounded up. Is that just how it is rounding up those children just like a herd of wiened calves" Talk about mass abuse. Why couldn't these kids have been interviewed quietly right there in their own environment?
TEXAS the great state. just gotta keep up with the western way.
Do they still round up and abuse the aborigianl people in Texas? Sounds like The biggest State never grew up.
Mongo | 4:28 p.m. April 7, 2008
Zeig Heil! --Yeah, what you said. The jews were led away peacefully to their deaths. Watching this on the news has made me think twice--DFS has just too much power. As far as I know, young girls do not have access to phones. I think the call was bogus and the reasons for taking all those children was bogus. Almost looked like a prelude to another Mountain Meadows Massacre, only this time, it will be carried out by the Texas Rangers. . . .
Minerman | 4:29 p.m. April 7, 2008
Has everyone forgotten that this is the same community that married a 14 year old girl to a 19 year old guy? Or that whether you agree with it or not, polygamy IS illegal, and that under the law they could arrest all of the adult? It's sad to see all this happen, but the law is the law. If you don't like it, work to change it. They may not be dealing drugs, but they're dealing kids here folks. Marrying kids who can't even drive. If the story had been about them marrying another middle schooler to a college aged guy, you'd all be up in arms. I don't know if this is what's best for the kids, but the alternative certainly wasn't appealing.
JND | 4:24 p.m. April 7, 2008
Tough bananas, those of you who like to see adult men married to middle school aged girls. Stay out of Texas.
Not so bad | 4:31 p.m. April 7, 2008
Well, the FLDS are gonna wish they hadn't messed with Texas. Shoulda stayed right here in Utah and Arizona. We may prosecute polygamous men for marrying underage girls but it has been over 50 years since Arizona raided the polygamous town of Short Creek and hauled women and children away.
Anonymous | 4:38 p.m. April 7, 2008
Good job Texas!
Mass justice | 4:37 p.m. April 7, 2008
I know their has been immorality in my ward, and I am willing for us all to be rounded up to root out the fornicators.

It was also fun to read, across the posse buses, "Baptist Church." Go Texas!
AMISH | 4:38 p.m. April 7, 2008
THE AMISH WILL BE THE NEXT!
utahcounty | 4:54 p.m. April 7, 2008
the reason they are rounding up these people is becuase polygamy is wrong, and ripe for abuse. Give the law enforcement officers some time and the abuses will become apparent.
V.C. Bennett | 4:59 p.m. April 7, 2008
For those of you who are worried about the over-reaching government interferring with the FLDS... I suggest to you that these people are captive under the thumb of something far more sinister.... those who use God as a tool of emotional, sexual, and economic manipulation. People like this scare the h*** out of rational, concerned citizens.

Any community that is called a "compound" is
problematic... I worry about the children who are denied the liberation of education and literacy: that knowledge to make up their own minds about their personal direction... who knows, they may set out and find good, decent people with whom to procreate, who are NOT their cousins, brothers, sisters, or fathers and passive-aggressive control freaks.
KAREN | 5:06 p.m. April 7, 2008
ARE MORMANS, AND OTHERS REALY THIS STUPID????? POLIGAMY IS AGAINST THE LAW, AND THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO ABUSE CHILDREN SEXUALLY, AND MENTALY AND YOU PEOPLE SEE A PROBLEM WITH THEM GETTING THESE CHILDREN OUT?? THEY ARE ALL BRAINWASHED......IF THEY ARE NOT GUILTY GREAT, BUT THEY NEED TO BE PUNISHED IF THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW(WHICH THEY ARE)
29er | 5:12 p.m. April 7, 2008
Now we learn that Texas recently changed the minimum age for marriage from 14 to 16 specifically because of the arrival of FLDS. So, before FLDS settled in Texas it was legal for a 50 year old man to take a 14 year old as a wife and start a family. Obviously, Texas decided to persecute FLDS for actually practicing what others in Texas (especially in the piney woods of East Texas) had been practicing for decades.

Cultures all over the world practice intergenerational marriage as a perfectly valid strategy of society to provide stability, food, shelter, and care for families raising children better than can a pair or inexperienced and unsettled youngsters .

It is an outrage for the state of Texas to rip 401 children away from their social system for the sheer purpose of imposing a relatively new cultural norm on a group of people who have lived this way for decades.
Cindy | 5:17 p.m. April 7, 2008
I too read the book ESCAPED by Jessop. I highly suggest you read the book before you criticize our law enforcement agency. I am more concerned about the unfound girl that made the phone call. She may be dead or being severely punished for her actions. Let's hope we find her!
wrz | 5:19 p.m. April 7, 2008
>>I don't support the FLDS, but I am concerned with government overreach in this case.<<

Overreach? The government is ruthless when it comes to wiping out a religion. How the Salt Lake LDS Church survived the government onslaught 150 years ago is truly amazing.
re: to angered from angered | 5:20 p.m. April 7, 2008
No, I watched the press conference. I didn't get my information from a secondhand newspaper article. They have 'cut off' access to the compound effectively detaining them. When asked what grounds they had to keep them there the lady responded "we are seeking a search warrant". They don't have one yet according to herself.

If they have evidence of abuse, how are they not being arrested? This is just a cover story because they don't like these people in their state and they don't like what they believe. It is bigoted and hateful and a violation of these peoples rights.

And to "Violent Abusers" when asked what grounds they had to remove all 401 children they said "Physical abuse" they never said a word about sexual abuse. Unless they were just avoiding the word, physical abuse means violent abuse. So yes, they are taking away these children from their parents on the ground of some nebulous term of "physical abuse".

It should scare the living daylights out of anyone that we have an organization like CPS that runs above law. They answer to no one. They do as they please and can take your children without evidence of criminal behavior.
collaboraters? | 5:17 p.m. April 7, 2008
A question for those of you that are equating this with the actions of the Nazis; if you really believe what you are saying, why aren't you doing something about it? Or are you like those in the ghettos that watched it happen to others? Either you don't really believe it is like what the Nazis did at all, you're just running your mouths; or you do believe it, but really don't care. Which is it? Are you going to stand down, or stand up?
wrz | 5:23 p.m. April 7, 2008
>>! How can one unsubstantiated complaint result in the detention of 401 children from various families?<<

When this is over these people should sue the government of Texas for harassment and violation of human rights. I hope they do and that the government is made to pay millions in compensation and penalties.
Long | 5:24 p.m. April 7, 2008
To all of you. if this was (YOU) would you take it? if my children were taken i would follow them. for those mothers that go with there children thay need all our soport. in 1953 thay had a Raid. the people of Arizona spoke out.if you want a book to read find it in your Library. also get on yiur computer and look up sexoffender in your Town. then ask your self if you would let authorities take your family. I have the right to ( BARE ARMS ) are we free?
dreadnoughtdad | 5:28 p.m. April 7, 2008
If you took 401 random children from any community in the world, and questioned them about abuse, I suspect you might get a higher response than from these children.
I don't agree with them, but is there cause to believe that child abuse among FLDS is higher than other Texas communities or religions?
Also, I would include being persuaded to be married at 15 as child abuse.
If it turns out that the instances of "child abuse", in any form, are much less than the national average, then Texas is going to get their pants sued off.
bhparkman | 5:40 p.m. April 7, 2008
At least the feds didn't kill everyone this time...
Mormons | 5:50 p.m. April 7, 2008
For those "mainstream" Mormons who view these renegade cultists with bewilderment and pity for their ridiculous religious beliefs -- the rest of the world views you with pretty much the same sentiments.
Oklahoma Mormon | 6:02 p.m. April 7, 2008
For you people who are not appalled what ZOG has done, you need to get your heads out and wake up. Whether or nor you support the FLDS, it makes no difference. Is nothing sacred anymore? Baptists are high up there with the rest of the hate groups. Their churches are nothing more than the philosophies of men mingled with scripture. The state of Texas is a puppet for ZOG. My storage is being increased by a large amount.
Concerned Christian | 6:06 p.m. April 7, 2008
Well, at least now we know why non-Mormons aren't allowed in your temples! Looks like they do more harm than just ruin the landscapes of the communities they invade. Goodness only knows what's going on in those buildings and who's being hidden in there.
Brooke | 6:17 p.m. April 7, 2008
So much for religious freedom???? What an abuse of justice By the Texas Authorities... What has happened to our country??? The Police have turned into Big Brother. Who will be next??? Homeschoolers??? Soccer Moms???
Jesse L. | 6:18 p.m. April 7, 2008
The police officers who invaded the ranch should be charged for violating the first ammendment. apparently an ammendment has been made to the constitution allowing the government to prohibit the free exercise of religion!!!!! if it comes out that any of the women and children were so much as coersed to leave, then the police should be charged for violating the fifth ammendment, for they seazed property unlawfully
shocked | 6:26 p.m. April 7, 2008
Yes to 29ner. Zieg Heil, is spelled Sieg Heil by the way. Ziege means goat. Sieg means winning.
I hope the FLDS people know enough about the law to sue child protective services. Of course the women leave with the children, the children don't know anybody else but their moms and taking them away the way this happened is traumatic. They had better have counselors for them for the next 30 years. I too think the call was bogus and Texans really jumped the gun there and should be held accountable for it. Better build them a few more buildings for screwing up their families like this. Even if Texans don't like the FLDS church, there are other ways to make sure no abuse is happening than to destroy families. Time to get some attorneys involved on the FLDS side.
JES | 6:26 p.m. April 7, 2008
Karen - I'm a Utah Mormon that happens to be very glad my church abandoned polygamy more than 100 years ago. Please don't confuse us with the FLDS. One wife is plenty for me.

V.C Bennett - I too worry about places referred to as compounds, including FLDs, Waco, Neo_Nazi, Kennedy, Kerry - Note both extreme conservative and liberal have areas designated as compounds. The key is EXTREME.

As for whether all of these children should have been removed, I have a difficult time believing that. As much as I disagree with their beliefs, I doubt 100% of them are evil. I also disagree with Muslims, but I doubt 100% of Muslim women and children are abused either. Although I have read supposedly reputable NEWS articles from major NEWS outlets that would have me believe that in certain areas. I think taking all of the children was a reach, and involving another church, critical of their beliefs for transportation should not have been allowed. I hope for the sake of the Texas justice sysytem that they truly have their ducks in a row.
Long | 6:30 p.m. April 7, 2008
ther are GOD, OR GOD's in most common Religions.thay all use GOD there higher power to sway, or get there point across. IF YOU THINK THAY USE GOD TO ABUSE THERE FAMILIES MAYBE YOU SHOULD STUDY MORE ABOUT THEM, and not the books that people who hate them write. We live in America, freedom of Religion. if you wish there Religion was gon. you just may be wishing away your one right's. there is abuse every were you go and that is sad. BUT TO TAKE 400 KIDS FROM THERE FAMILIES IS SOMTHING TO LOOK AT. people! LOOK AT WATS GOING ON. i live in the United states, Ilove it here because of people that stad up for one another. treat them like you would treat any other American I know i will even if that means standing up for them BECOUS WE ARE AMERICANS!!!!
Inform yourself | 6:34 p.m. April 7, 2008
It is not unusual for the uninformed to equate polygamy with underage marriage. Just as it is not unusual for the uninformed to equate today's LDS church with today's polygamists.

Have you ever been stereotyped?

Does Catholic priest always equal pedophile?
Does Muslim always equal a terrorist?
Does Mormon always scoutleader equal a pedophile?
Does black man always equal a criminal?
Does blonde always equal dumb?
Does Hispanic always equal illegal immigrant?

Inform yourself from more than one source, and from more than your nightly news

There are tens of thousands of polygamous families throughout the Western United States. They live a couple blocks from you. Their children attend school with your children. They build your houses. They own your local stores. They cheer for your kids' (and theirs) little league teams. They nurture and protect their children as you do. They abhor child abuse, sexual abuse, underage marriage and fraud as much as you do. They aren't on the nightly news because they don't deserve to be.

They are criminals in one area only: because they have not left women and children along a trail of divorce or promiscuity like so many other Americans today.

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Marleigh Meisner, spokeswoman for Texas Child Protective Services, addresses the press in a packed room in San Angelo, Texas, on Monday. FLDS women and children were brought to San Angelo while multiple law enforcement agencies searched the YFZ ranch for an allegedly abused 16-year-old girl. Meisner announced that all 401 children from the ranch have been removed from their parents and are now in temporary state custody.

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