Reader comments
Court refuses to hear FLDS mothers' request

Hugh McBryde | 12:31 a.m. April 26, 2008

The damage to the children caused by removing them from their home is irreparable and constantly increasing. The ONLY justification for actions like this is the certainty that damage is occurring in the home. So far Texas has yet to show there is damage occurring in the home. They're down to three females, either adult or otherwise that they can say might be pregnant, and depending on who you talk to there may only be one girl pregnant who MIGHT be or MIGHT have been below the age of consent when she became pregnant. They don't know WHO she is pregnant by, and frankly, she does not owe Texas the answer. She is not by their definition, the criminal. POTENTIALLY whoever made her pregnant might be a criminal, but could be young enough themselves to make the act not criminal. Thus Texas has no evidence of a crime at all, and for all they know, the act that made the girl pregnant could have occurred in a place OTHER than Texas. One pregnant teenager of questionable age (she is claiming she is 18) is not enough to ship all kids to foster care. How could the court refuse to hear?

Margaret | 1:21 a.m. April 26, 2008

The cruelty of Texas authorities just makes me sick. Separating the children from mothers terribly traumatizes the kids. This action does not make any sense and makes me wonder how the USA can present itself as a defender of human rights in the world when authorities don't care about constitutional rights of American citizens. It's a shame. I hope the kids will be back with their parents soon, and those responsible for the outrageous action will be punished.

Jim | 2:21 a.m. April 26, 2008

I agree but what shocks me more is the apparently-large number of sickos in Texas that want to point fingers at these poor people. This tragedy has certainly changed my view of State of Texas. Where are the good citizens of America standing while this outrage goes on. It is creepy. No-one should feel safe.

Comments continue below

Melissa | 2:34 a.m. April 26, 2008

That is one of the most ignorant things I have heard in my life. What is wrong with you people?! If the state suspects abuse, they have the duty to act on behalf of those children and move them to a safe place until determined otherwise later. As this may not be the optimal situation, it is naive of the FLDS people to think they could repeatedly break the low and have nothing done about it. Polyamy is against the law. Sex with a minor under 16 is against the law. All they have to do is follow the law, otherwise they or anyone for that matter should expect, sooner or later, the government will intervene and you will have everything taken from you. The mother's will get over it, let's think of the children and the possible hell they could be facing on a daily basis.

Brad | 2:53 a.m. April 26, 2008

I used to live in Texas and the Justice system down there is very heavy handed. By that I mean that even among judges, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty simply doesn't exist. You must prove your innocense beyond any shadow of a doubt. Establishing reasonable doubt doesn't work in Texas, except on very rare occasions. And when it does, it happens in Harris County (Houston) and Travis County (Austin)

Lost Hope | 4:14 a.m. April 26, 2008

I thought there might be a glimer of hope that the circuit court would do the right thing and reunite the children with there parents.
This is insane I am amazed at these bigots who feel these parents should not be with there children.

Uwe | 4:52 a.m. April 26, 2008

Wake up people! Those parents are unfit to take care of children. <- Period
Don't you get it? If you chose to live in a compound where children, not necessarely yours, are married off before they can make informed decisions on their own you'd put them at risk for a lifetime of misery. It does not matter what religion you belong to or how many wifes or husbands you live with. Am I my brothers keeper? Should the government (our representatives)get involved? I think we all know the answer to this.

TO Margaret and Hugh | 5:45 a.m. April 26, 2008

The cruelty the FLDS "church" has shown is incredible. I cannot understand a "church" that not only reassigns women to new men (polyandry)at whim but also reassigns biological children to those men thereby stripping the biological father of his children only to toss the father out of the community. Is is especially cruel when that same church has that reassigned family run across state borders so that the biological father has no access to his own children. These Real biological fathers are now arriving in Texas and happily submitting to DNA tests so that they can once again see their children which were stolen in the name of God, er I mean Warren Jeffs. It's not about religion folks but criminal actions.

WRONG AND WRONG | 6:40 a.m. April 26, 2008

WRONG for marring underage girls --- Texas is WRONG for taking children from INDIVIDUAL families with no proof that they are involved in underage marrage.

The FLDS need to STOP this practice. Let the girls be of legal age.

Texas needs to act ONLY against the families who they can prove underage marrage. They treat it like hurding long horns.

Red Texan | 8:00 a.m. April 26, 2008

You polygamist apologists have gone daft. Thank God Texas rescued these children, and we hope and pray their is hope for them to live deprogrammed lives made by their own choices. If only we could say as much for the zombied-out mothers.

Funny how the FLDS themselves have been "reassigning" wives and children and ripping apart families and children with no outcry from within or without. Only now that they are getting the children out of this hell ranch is it "outrageous."

The fact that even the children are so unemotional about the whole thing (waving and smiling from the bus) is a strong indication that they have been programmed beyond feeling and/or are thrilled to be rescued.

God bless Texas!

Miss G | 8:29 a.m. April 26, 2008

So many of the posts on this and related stories refer to "constitutional rights." I have read the Constitution every year for forty years and taught it in school, and I have yet to find the paragraph that says an individual can do just as they please and the government will give them "the right" to continue, no matter what. No one ever has all "rights" which works out well because so few ever take all responsibility.

THey're not the mothers! | 8:43 a.m. April 26, 2008

Don't you know that??? Texas is the righghtful mother/father. How dare you presume to deny the lawful rights of the great state of Tejas! The great Texas knows whats best for your children and they will tell you when you are worthy of being the parent! Just make sure you grovel at the feet of the righteous Ms Meisner, Judge Walther ( and the rest of CPS) and by golly don't mess with Texass!

Strider | 8:56 a.m. April 26, 2008

I agree with the comments made. I can't see how anyone of any religion or philosophy could condone what's being done to those children. To just make one decision for all 400+ children in one fell swoop is a dishonorable motion that will be regretted by all authorities involved, because somewhere, somehow, real justice will be served and I hope there will be dire consequences for perverting and misusing the justice system as the State of Texas has. God bless those mothers and children.

Floyd | 9:45 a.m. April 26, 2008

You didn't really expect a Texas court to be fair did you??
Many of the "children" the CPS has declared under 16 have Proper ID but the CPS says it's fake. (as reported here and elsewhere)
I ask you "Can you prove you are who you say you are with out a doubt?? No you can't. all you have is your birth certificate and THAT can be fake. There is NO WAY to really prove who you are and how old you may be.
True, DNA will show family connection but will not indicate age or if the name you use is really you.
Think about it. There isn't any undeniable way to show and prove your ID.
I believe the CPS knew where the calls originated(caller ID and trace back work fine even on cell phones) and used the story to gain admittance. The judge was gullible enough to believe the story. The rest is history.

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