Reader comments
Advocacy group: Sex abuse would trump FLDS religious freedoms

Any word on State of Texas filings in this case? They were originally expected to give the Court their response last Friday.

so what's the deal.
Does this mean that if one or tw0 were abused the State can hold all 464.... if so...watch out people.
They will have to hold every Catholic because of a few priests.

The state will probably try to come up with some incomprehensible definition of child sexual abuse, and then apply it to the FLDS children. Probably a definition that has nothing to do with sex or abuse, as any normal person would think of it.

'Proof of sexual abuse'? Does the fact that several underage girls are pregnant not prove EXACTLY what's going on in this case? The proof is already growing inside the wombs of these underage, unprepared mothers-to-be. I'm surprised no response has been filed to this outrageous accusation. Any 'religious rights' ended the moment these girls were handed over to be raped and impregnated against their will.

"Does this mean that if one or two were abused the State can hold all 464.... if so...They will have to hold every Catholic because of a few priests."

Yes, that's exactly what it means zxcvbnm!

NOT!!!

If you're going to use strawmen, at least try coming up with something a little more creative.

"The state will probably try to come up with some incomprehensible definition of child sexual abuse,..."

Like say, forcing underage girls to marry old geezers and have sex with them is considered child sexual abuse in the state of Texas.

Texas would appear to be making up evidence as they go along. Whatever lies it takes to suit their purposes ... and cover their butts. Texas is quick becoming a joke. Sad the kids are made to suffer, for the jerks that run the system.

These people still live in prairie dress times. It was common only a few years ago for girls to marry at ages 15 to 17, and get pregnant. It was not abuse then and is not necessarily abuse now. It all depends on the individual case. The problem in Texas is the assumption that all are guilty without looking at individual cases.

I would bet there are plenty of job openings for any idiot that wants to be CPS worker in Texas.

Qualifications?: To be highly qualified, must hate FLDS

re: "But the brief argues that should Texas provide proof that sexual abuse of minors occurred at the YFZ Ranch, that legally trumps religious freedoms protections and parental rights."

Funny.

"Quite a few" Catholic priests "FOUND GUILTY" of sexual exploitation and abuse of children (amongst other grim verdicts)and this still

DID NOT "TRUMP" -

the "religious freedoms and parental rights" of Catholic families within parishes (compounds) where those particular Catholic priests "served" - even when "more than one" at a parish was found.

Even "FAMILIES OF SPECIFIC VICTIMS" of those priesthood betrayals did not find themselves blamed - much less the whole congregation.

EVEN THOUGH this clearly meant that parents, other church members, etc. in those parishes had indeed "taught their children" to "love" and "obey" "these men" who are believed to "speak" "for God" and are "holy" and "sacred" in ways defined by Catholic Faith.

No one removed children even "WHEN IT WAS KNOWN" - "Where" and "Who" the predators were.

Not so very long ago we were taught the "dangers" and "misconceptions" caused by "LABELING" and "STEREOTYPING" individuals
based on "presupposed assumptions" of larger social bodies they were part of.

Prejudice must be back in style again.

All I want to know is what about that monogamous couple with the 5 young children all under 10. Why'd they have to have their children taken away? It's not right.

This accusation keeps getting thrown-around about "old geezers having sex with teenagers".

Yes, this did actually happen, and that is why their leader is now in prison...

BUT, reports from the ranch do not yet show anything illegal actually happened there (aside from polygamy-- but that is something likely to go all the way to the Supreme Court).
We do see a lot of 17 and 18 year old mothers to husbands no more than 10 years older, there are even a few 16- year old mothers, but the State of Texas would have to prove that there was sex on Texas Soil, as most of these women moved here from other states with different laws and only during the past year, even past weeks and months prior to the raid, and we are told that some were merely on brief visits.

Don't stoke the fires of this witch-hunt any further, give these people the due process they deserve.

Wonder if the Judge, the Sheriff department, and TX CPS taken together would not qualify to be labeled a HATE group?

Opps ... Probably would also have to include half the "good" citizens down there.

It is still a fact that Texas laws protect minors from sexual abuse. In order to establish the extent of the "Alleged" abuse it IS necessary to remove the minors from their parents - whomever they may be. If allowed to stay w/Mom/Aunt/Auntmom they could possibly be controlled/persuaded not to tell the "Gods Honest Truth." The real truth here is that there could be hundreds of young girls who have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of an older man with the blessings of her parents - sounds like the breaking of a law to me. Whether their "Religion" condones these acts doesn't matter - it is AGAINST the law and all parties involved need to punished. Texas penal code states that from 14 to 17 years old if there is greater than a 3 year age difference it is a crime, under 14 a felony - NO MATTER WHAT

I agree - has all the appearances of a witch-hunt. But ironically, most of the witches seem to actually be working for CPS

Wonder how many little girls have been "raped" by being forced to endure pelvic exams at the hands of CPS strangers. Forced exams = rape of both mind and body.

Re:"It is still a fact that Texas laws protect minors from sexual abuse."
Actually this is NOT a fact.

"I found, from information provided by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, in Fiscal 2003, 30 foster children died in our state's care; in Fiscal 2004, 38 foster children died; and in Fiscal 2005, 48 foster children died.

"Data shows that while the number of foster children in our state's care increased 24 percent from 26,133 in Fiscal 2003 to 32,474 in Fiscal 2005, the number of deaths increased 60 percent.

"If you compare the number of deaths of children in our state's population to the number of deaths in our state's foster care system, a child is four times more likely to die in our state's foster care system.

"Based on Fiscal 2004 data provided by the Health and Human Services Commission, about 100 children received treatment for poisoning from medications; 63 foster children received medical treatment for rape that occurred while in the foster care system; and 142 children gave birth while in the state foster care system.
from Carole Keeton Strayhorn
Former Texas Comptroller
Report on Foster Care Abuse

observer - now you're just being ludicrous. Do you really feel that "JOHN Q CPS WORKER" is doing the pelvic exams? Believe it or not Texas has a few trained professionals in the field of modern medicine and yungun's. Try and be realistic in your thoughts before making such crude and cruel comments!

If the "monogamous couple with the 5 young children all under 10" had insisted on subdividing the one piece of property then it would have taken more than one warrant to search. If the family you mention was involved AT ALL in the "shell game" to hide the children from CPS then their own illegal actions involved them.

Comparing the sexual abuse dealt from the Catholic Priests to the sanctioned sexual abuse within the FLDS ranks are 2 very different cases.
Priests - choir boys, where/when did this happen?
years ago and likely on Church property w/o parents present
FLDS - child brides, right in front of and with the blessings of the parents/members of the church
the ONLY similarity is that it is/was sexual abuse of minors, Stop comparing the cases.

I guess rational thinking cannot prevail when dealing with extremists, because they are addicted not only to the teachings of the extreme faith but to the obsession of being obsessed.