to g | 11:46 a.m. May 1, 2008
There is a huge difference and this is why. The statistics mentioned, refer also to 18 and 19 year olds that are not forced into incestuous relationships that result in offspring. They are legally permitted to marry WITHOUT consent of parents because they are of age. Should adult men be held responsible for statutory rape when great than 3 years as is typically written? Yes, without a doubt. Again though, remove the 18 and 19 legal adults from the teenage pregnancy survey and you will have vastly different statistics even in urban settings. This is quite different than the FLDS community. I do not understand why that is so difficult for you to understand.
Re: Blame It On Hillary | 11:50 a.m. May 1, 2008
Congratulations! Official winner of the "strawman of the day" award.

A straw man argument is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw man argument" is to describe a position that superficially resembles an opponent's actual view but is easier to refute, then attribute that position to the opponent (for example, deliberately overstating the opponent's position). A straw man argument can be a successful rhetorical technique (that is, it may succeed in persuading people) but it carries little or no real evidential weight, because the opponent's actual argument has not been refuted.

Now explain why you think it should be legal to rape children as long as it's part of your religious beliefs.
Break Down The Door | 11:52 a.m. May 1, 2008
I wonder when CPS is going to break down the door to my Junior High classroom. Right off the top of my head, I can think of two of my students with broken legs, one with a broken arm, and one with a broken finger. Let the investigations begin!
Comments continue below
Get off it Helen of Troy! | 11:56 a.m. May 1, 2008
you know the educational level of the average reader or when you been holed up at? The Ranch perhaps?
G | 12:00 p.m. May 1, 2008
"You keep reading the FLDS propaganda and believe everything they say."

I don't need to read FLDS "propaganda". Everything I need to know about this case is coming from CPS itself. They're doing FLDS' job for them. For example, I don't see how anyone with common sense isn't appalled that it took until Monday of this week for Texas to figure out how many kids were in their custody. Great way to earn my confidence, guys. Next week that number might change again. NOTHING surprises me at this point.

"Some boys have already come forward and said they were molested. Underage girls are pregnant and have children."

You'll find that in any high school in Texas. If you round up ~450 kids anywhere, probability dictates that you will find all sorts of family problems. Simply stating the problem is there is not the same as "systematic abuse".

"Kind of sad when they go to into custody and all they want to do is clean and do yard work. What kind of kid says that?"

One that isn't spoiled? Children should do what, drink sodas and play Grand Theft Auto all day?

Stewart | 12:06 p.m. May 1, 2008
This group doesn't seem as extreme as the Taliban, at least no beheading. However the indoctrination process is somewhat similar. The FLDS are more like Jim Jones and his followers. Remember, they voluntarily drank the Koolaid and gave it to their children. That is the reason their leaders isolated them, so that they could be indoctrinated to that level. The FDLS are engaged in the same form of mental isolation of the children. Do we wait for the same catastrophe to occur as The People's Temple group in Jonestown carried out by the Rev. Jim Jones? It seems that this problem has been ignored for decades now, and needs to be dealt with. I suppose the adults have the right to drink the mental koolaid, but do they have he right to force it on the children?
Re: G | 12:06 p.m. May 1, 2008

You'll find that in any high school in Texas. If you round up ~450 kids anywhere, probability dictates that you will find all sorts of family problems. Simply stating the problem is there is not the same as "systematic abuse".

Please. Abuse is common in the FLDS and it has been documented. There are many victims. Just read their stories.


"Kind of sad when they go to into custody and all they want to do is clean and do yard work. What kind of kid says that?"

One that isn't spoiled? Children should do what, drink sodas and play Grand Theft Auto all day?

No, kids should be kids. They should play with toys, play outside, have a chance to be educated, and be involved in sports if they want to be. I guess working on a construction site is what kids should be doing huh?
Also | 12:08 p.m. May 1, 2008
It doesn't help that the FLDS have lied to the authorities about their ages, moms, and dads. And also it has been documented that they took off the ID bracelets! Please, the FLDS have NO CREDIBILITY because they have been lying and still follow that criminal Warren Jeffs!
Freddie | 12:08 p.m. May 1, 2008
>>>Blame the whole FLDS thing on Hillary Clinton, she wrote the book "It Takes A Village" and these people obviously took her Literally!!!<<<

Absolutely brilliant post!!
I Agree! | 12:11 p.m. May 1, 2008
Well said, David S. And realitycheck60, you are also dead-on. There are clearly FLDS and other polygamists posting on this site. To those polygamists: your lifestyle is appalling at best and criminal at worst. Don't for a second delude yourselves into thinking that we agree with you in any way. Our arguments are addressing human rights and civility, rights that apply to EVERYONE. You, however, make me sick.
Confiscate All the Kids | 12:10 p.m. May 1, 2008
Divert, divert, divert.

Arrest every parent of every kid who's ever gotten pregnant, broken a bone, been sent to timeout, been scolded, yelled at, criticized. All parents are abusive to their kids so CPS should take custody of the whole lot.

Or maybe, we could just stick to the topic of whether or not forcing young girls to get married and have babies is child abuse. And if it is child abuse, what should be done to stop the FLDS from continuing this practice.
G | 12:11 p.m. May 1, 2008

"No, kids should be kids. They should play with toys, play outside, have a chance to be educated, and be involved in sports if they want to be. I guess working on a construction site is what kids should be doing huh?"

That's a lifestyle choice, with the exception of education, which is enforceable by law. The rest of your commentary is really just opinion. One family's idea of a wholesome environment is not the same for everyone else. You can raise your kids as you please. But if FLDS kids are helping around the house and not playing soccer, that's not your business.

"Documented" by whom? CPS? They've already discredited themselves many times over.
So, | 12:13 p.m. May 1, 2008
Reality check might We assume You are employed by Texas child services?
multiple births | 12:14 p.m. May 1, 2008
Does anyone know whether any of the "undrage" mothers have had multiple birth pregnancies? Do the FLDS have no twins, triplets, etc?
Stop the Slavery | 12:17 p.m. May 1, 2008
This a sick closed society that needs to be shut down. As Utah and Arizona put pressure on this closed society the have withdrawn and have moved the choosen to other locations. All of the locations need to be made known and followed closely. The men that can we flee Texas with what wives they can and start over again. This is the long term danger. If you do not round up the men they will continue some where else.

Child salvery and abuse, mental, physical, sexual - has to be stopped no matter how long it takes and no matter where they go they have to be stopped!
Don | 12:20 p.m. May 1, 2008
We have six children and three broken bones. One fell off the bed. One was skiing. One was in the door at school. That's fifty percent!! Things happen!! 41 divided by 400+ works out to less than ten percent! I say those FLDS parents are over-protective!!
wrz | 12:24 p.m. May 1, 2008
>>"rounding all the children up"...True, it happened. >"wholesale"...Who are we selling them to? And why is it wholesale and not retail? >"separating them from their mothers"...The mothers who are adults failed to protect the children from a systemic practice of sexual abuse which they universally accept as a divine mandate from their leaders. >They have repeatedly lied... >"violation of Constitutional rights of freedom of worship"...How has freedom of worship been abridged? >The FLDS are free to worship as they see fit, but they (along with Mormons, Muslims, Jews, Catholics...etc) are prohibited from including illegal acts as part of that worship. >Either you truly do not understand constitutional law or you are FLDS and will say anything to deflect focus from the central issue...underage sexual abuse.<<

2 1/2 years ago Texas allowed 14 (and in some cases 13) year-olds to marry. Explain that.
Scared American | 12:26 p.m. May 1, 2008
There is a big deferents between, (a)Accused (b)Convicted (c)Guilty I don't know if any of actually read into the evidence and trial of Warren Jeff's, but I did, in a attempted to better understand this Texas situation, and in my Opinion, Warren Jeff's Trial was a Mockery to the Justice System. And before you post a big Ignorant reply to me your welcome to go do the research, I did! It is my believe that the Warren Jeff's phony Trial was apart of this constitution destroying plan. And we are all playing into it. Please someone (with evidence) prove me wrong!!
Hoosier | 12:26 p.m. May 1, 2008
The flds remind so much of the Taliban. Men have all of the power even dictating the way women wear their hair, what shoes they wear, etc. The Taliban also said it was their religious beliefs. The flds men like the Taliban need to be brought to justice for their misdeeds. The women and children should be freed from their masters and the sooner the better. TEXAS is to be blessed for starting the process.
Re: Freddie | 12:27 p.m. May 1, 2008
"I did the math. With tree kids at 17 the first would have to be born at about age 10 or 11... A physical impossibility."

Maybe you should take your shoes off and try the math again.

The gestation period for a human baby is 9 months, meaning a teenaged girl could easily have a baby at age 15, another at age 16 and a third at age 17. Three kids at age 17, not at all impossible in the FLDS community.

Warren Jeffs was convicted of forcing an FLDS girl into a marriage with her cousin when she was only 14.
G | 12:28 p.m. May 1, 2008
"Again though, remove the 18 and 19 legal adults from the teenage pregnancy survey and you will have vastly different statistics even in urban settings."

The studies I'm refering to came from a survey of middle schoolers, not 18-19 year olds. As a general rule, the younger the mother the older the father.
Re: wrz | 12:30 p.m. May 1, 2008
"2 1/2 years ago Texas allowed 14 (and in some cases 13) year-olds to marry. Explain that."

Is that why you moved to Texas?
RE: Child Broken Bones | 12:33 p.m. May 1, 2008
Kind of faulty logic saying that you only break bones riding bicycles, playing basketball or football, or engaging in roller sports. How do you think people got broken bones 150 years ago? There are lots of ways to break a bone. And 41 out of 464 kids seems like a fairly low percentage to me anyway. Maybe those parents were taking too good of care of their children!

Most of these polygamy stories hitting the national and international media every day are just there to grab the attention of readers. The media is taking advantage of this very unfortunate situation. They find any new tidbit of "news" and publish it because they know it will get a lot of clicks.
Re: Re CPS Haters | 12:34 p.m. May 1, 2008
So what if your birth mother had 5 kids before 18 and she wasn't FLDS. I really doubt the FLDS girls are having lots of babies because they are sleeping around!
Re: Bartlby | 12:37 p.m. May 1, 2008
Genocide is definitely an overdramatic assessment. If this was on a much smaller scale it would be investigated and the kids would have been taken.
Re: Scared American | 12:38 p.m. May 1, 2008
From your writing, I wouldn't be surprised if you were at the trial, so you really didn't have to "read into the evidence."

The eyewitness account of the 14-year-old girl who was forced to marry her 19-year-old cousin, and then was repeatedly raped with Warren Jeffs's blessing is all the evidence I need.
BARFLY | 12:46 p.m. May 1, 2008
I wonder if Warren Jeffs fathered any children with his own daughters? I hear the polygamist men practice this saintly ritual as well.
Earl | 12:45 p.m. May 1, 2008
I quote:
"Show me one instance in the Old Testament where God expressly commanded polygamy."

Gen:16-1
Broken bone = "Abuse"? | 12:50 p.m. May 1, 2008
We are pretty quick to say, "aha, this proves my pre-conception going into this".

Does broken bones = Abuse? Not necesarily.

Does a bed in a room in the Temple automatically = They were used for sex for guys who couldn't wait to get out of the building before they had to have sex with their brides?

Get a grip and don't pre-judge. We aren't getting all the facts yet, just the info CPS decides to leak to the media (and tends to justify their raid).

There will be plenty of time to judge later. Don't get in a hurry.
Constitution | 12:55 p.m. May 1, 2008
The Constitution trumps all only if you are a Constitutionalist, otherwise there are amendments to the Constitution which were intended from its inception. Also court cases (Reynolds v. United States) is an example that make a point as I gave regarding beliefs vs actions. Again, human sacrifice IS not protected under the Constitution because of its actions nor is polygamy.
Nannie | 12:57 p.m. May 1, 2008
People please get youself educated about the FLDS! Alot of books have been written by the women that have gotten out of this cult "religion",if time was taken to read a few then there is no way you would stand up for the adults.These little children are used as slaves and alot worse--you know they deserve to have a choice.
Jack | 12:59 p.m. May 1, 2008
If anyone of you knows FLDS personally--then you would know that this stuff is all true.
G | 1:01 p.m. May 1, 2008
"Also court cases (Reynolds v. United States) is an example that make a point as I gave regarding beliefs vs actions."

Reynolds was ruled in 1878, and would be unlikely to stand today, especially with the modern recognition of things like the right to privacy issue. The Courts see things very differently today than they did in the 19th century.
Sneaky Texans | 1:02 p.m. May 1, 2008
When the heat in Utah and Arizona got too hot, Warren Jeffs shopped around for a place where it was legal for 14 (and in some cases 13) year-olds to marry, forgetting the little detail that the child brides would only be "spiritually" married since many of the husbands already had 3 or more wives.

Then those sneaky Texans found out what the FLDS were doing on the YFZ Ranch, so the Texans changed their laws.

Undeterred, the FLDS continued their child bride practices, afterall, what difference does it make if you're breaking one law or two, since all the children were being held captive anyway and no legal records were being kept, who would know.

Then an anonymous phone call ratted them out.

Shame on the sneaky Texas CPS people who care more about the welfare of the FLDS kids than their own parents do.
Brain Washing? | 1:03 p.m. May 1, 2008
Everyone is talking of brain washing of these kids through this FLDS cult. What about the rest of us brainwashing our kids, have you been to a little leauge baseball game of late. Holy Molly are some of those kids just a mess, and of course we parents don't help out at all, we bail our kids out and make it known to the kid that its the teachers fault, its the coaches falt, its not the kids or the parents fault. Speaking of brain washing are we the only country in the civilized world that lets companies advertise to childrten under 14 years old, why yes we are. So hey before we take a look at how people raise thier children lets take a look at our self, and of course we wont because its everyone elses problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CPS haters? | 1:02 p.m. May 1, 2008
Is anyone who doesn't sing the praises of Texas CPS in this case automatically a CPS hater? If so, I guess I'm one so I can answer the many questions.

Q1- "What proof do you have that FLDS parents didn't do everything CPS is accusing them of"? I don't have any proof, just the "Innocent until PROVEN guilty thing".

I'm not so convinced they are innocent as I am encouraging people to quit judging based on the rumors and prejudices they had before the raid even happend.

There will be plenty of time to be disturbed and punish the FLDS individually if the state can PROVE their cases. Today I'm mainly disturbed by our willingness to throw out any civil liberties the FLDS are "GUARANTEED" in our nation, just because we have pre-judged them to be "Nuts".
orangeed | 1:04 p.m. May 1, 2008
What godfearing loving group would "expell" en mass the teenage boys?
WHY is the ratio so abnormal???
What was it 17 teen boys to 53 female? What happened to them?
Boys are being treated for mental illness type disabilites because of the trauma of being kicked out and all alone beliving your going to hell because you were unwanted.
Are all those boys liars?
Didnt one win a court case or something?
I wonder if there are young boys 16 and under that have been kicked out. THAT WOULD BE ABUSE STRIKE 2 and the Mothers would be guilty.
The scales of justice seem to have a brick of Iron for the FLDS lies and evidence and a feather in defense of their lifestyle. Let the courts play this out. Not that Im a big fan of roberts and the "new supreme court", But bring this issue before them and I have a feeling they would get their goose cooked.
Cookie's outrage | 1:06 p.m. May 1, 2008
PLEASE post the following information;
Search 'Strong City', and CNN story about
babies in India...child abuses are child abuses
no matter where they are in the world!
It is sickening to read "defend Constitutional
rights" and "CPS violated Constitutional rights
and Texas law". Where is there a Constitutional
right to abuse children in the name of religion?
There are too many comments without research first! Search 'brittle bones.' Search 'fumerase deficiency' for those of you who haven't taken time
to do so.
I am NOT condoning child abuse by ANY entity
whatsoever. Somebody has to end atrocities
against babies and children. I am outraged!
You want to end it? Then get up off your hinies
and e-mail the Governors of every State in the
Union and every Attorney General, too.
Crimes against children HAVE to stop in the 21st
Century or humanity as a whole will create its
own destruction!
Thank you avengeance | 1:16 p.m. May 1, 2008
Thank you avengeance@10:52am
�142 young girls gave birth...� It seems Texas really does go after other underage pregnant girls� families. If that many were removed from their homes and gave birth while in State custody then this really isn�t about religion but about child abuse. I am very glad you pointed that out.
Also the children that were raped were done so most of the time by other children in care. We had 2 foster boys when I was a child, one raped my older sister. That wasn�t my sister�s fault or that of my parents. Things happen when children are led to believe sex is �OK� if you want it to be. Our foster brothers were/are much like the children from the FLDS community where some will be a great risk to others based on their beliefs about sex and when it is �OK�.
Re: Earl | 1:16 p.m. May 1, 2008
"Gen:16-1"

Re-read it. God and Sarai are not one and the same.
To G and Nanny | 1:30 p.m. May 1, 2008
G- I think you got it right! Thank you. Broken bones and teen pregnancy happen in any religion. round up the same amount of catholic children or baptists, you'll have a similar number.

To Nanny, why would we want to learn about a religion from people who have left that religion and are most likely very bitter about it. You can read all the books you want, but please take it with a grain of salt.

CPS should return the children and pay for damages.
FLDS Sympathizers | 1:43 p.m. May 1, 2008
Your arguments are weak concerning your constitutional rights. Until CPS can determine correct parentage, the entire community is affected. All children need to be removed until the facts sort out. You DO NOT have the constitutional right to keep your children in an environment rife with abuse. You DO NOT have the right to violate the law in the name of religious freedom. Tell your friends at the YFZ compound to cooperate with authorities. They are making it harder on themselves by obscuring the facts. Dragging this out does not bring sympathy toward your cause, sorry.
To:orangeed at 1:04 | 1:48 p.m. May 1, 2008
You are right on the mark. All of these boys are not liars. The boy you are referring to that sued was Brent Jeffs, the nephew of Warren Jeffs, who was molested by his uncles including Warren, and all with the last name of Jeffs. Sick People. His two brothers and many other young boys were also molested. Google Brent Jeffs and read his story. These are seriously sick perverted men.
JND | 1:59 p.m. May 1, 2008
Thanks, folks! Entertaining responses. See you tomorrow.
Excuse Me! | 2:06 p.m. May 1, 2008
"Broken bones and teen pregnancy happen in any religion."

Forced teen pregnancy encouraged by church leaders and parents does not happen in any religion!!!

It's child abuse!

A far as your religion. We're all ears. Please explain what it is about this practice that we don't understand.
qqq | 2:09 p.m. May 1, 2008
To "Scared American"

You are exactly right. Jeffs was convicted of rape as an accomplice. What a farce. There is not proven rape. The alleged rapist hasn't even been tried yet. Seems all we have is a female who didn't like sex.
David S | 2:10 p.m. May 1, 2008
Former members of my church have written scathing books intending to open people's eyes its evils. Just because people write books doesn't mean we really know anything about what they're criticizing. It is ALWAYS eye-opening to hear the other side of the story.

No one here wants to tolerate abuse and suffering. When I watched a twenty minute video on MSNBC giving several FLDS a chance to talk, I simply began to wonder if I had all the facts. I just think Texas should have measured twice and cut once.

Throw every last one in jail IF they are guilty. But there is much to suggest that many innocent families have been devastatingly torn apart without cause.

Houses and yards once full of children are now silent. For those parents who may misguidedly support a fallen religion, but who have themselves committed no crime, this is inspeakable torture and it is unecessary.

We should demand a more sensitive and discriminating approach. We should demand that charges are brought against individual parents or the children be restored to them imediately.

G | 2:10 p.m. May 1, 2008
"too funny that FLDS people from Utah are posting here pretending to be regular folk. Hey - we know it's you. No one in their right mind would stick up for these FLDS child and women abusers."

Hey realitycheck,

Why don't you take a moment and compare the relative spelling ability, grammar, syntax, and general literacy of the average pro- and anti- CPS commentators?

If your accusations are true, I think there's some "purdy gud" grammar and rhetoric taught in them compounds.
Re: qqq | 2:16 p.m. May 1, 2008
"Seems all we have is a female who didn't like sex."

Gee, I can't imagine any 14-year-old girl who wouldn't want to be forced to marry and have sex with her 19-year-old cousin.

Scared American = qqq (at least you agree with yourself)
Anony | 2:16 p.m. May 1, 2008
>>Warren Jeffs was convicted of forcing an FLDS girl into a marriage with her cousin when she was only 14.<<

She testified that she said "I do."

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Carey Cockerell of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services testifies about FLDS children.

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