The Raven | 3:44 p.m. May 9, 2008
In my opinion, children in modern society are "at risk" because of what is being put into their minds by Hollywood, the "education system," Planned Parenthood, and the ACLU. Is there any chance Texas is going to raid the offices of these organizations and prosecute them for promoting filth, perversion, relativism, and anything goes?????
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G | 3:50 p.m. May 9, 2008
"Texas child welfare attorneys say children were removed from the YFZ Ranch and should not return there because its residents live as one big family and all have the same dangerous belief system."

This is where the First Amendment comes to play. Government can ban child abuse but not specific religious teachings.
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Whose belief system? | 5:15 p.m. May 9, 2008
There's a lot about this case I don't fully understand, nor do I condone the breaking of the law, if that is what has happened. But a statement like this give me grave concerns about authorities overstepping their bounds: "child psychiatrist Bruce Perry, who described an "unhealthy" belief that it's OK to have sex with and marry young women."

These are merely beliefs and current norms. I expect that most people reading this comment will have heard the theory that at the time of Christ, in the Jewish community, it was common for a girl to marry at the young age we are talking about here. Perhaps even Mary, the mother of the Savior, could have given birth to Him at such a young age. Would this say that the Father believes it is "unhealthy" for a teenage young woman to be married and have children?
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Observer | 5:22 p.m. May 9, 2008
Let me think. What was it Hillary Clinton said: "It takes a village to raise a child."
Why are Texas authorities against a village raising a child? And liberal Hillary said it, so it must be so. But I guess it depends on what the village believes!

I thought the First Ammendment was still in effect.
This village of FLDS are not allowed to teach their children their beliefs! Granted the child abuse is a different question, but beliefs, the state has no right to keep children from their mothers because of their beliefs.
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Bruce | 5:24 p.m. May 9, 2008
"All of the women are called mothers to all of the children in the home, and the children call each other brothers and sisters," the response states."

So what's wrong with that?
Catholics call nuns "sister" and priests "father", etc.
Thinking of each other as brothers and sisters might go a long way toward curing a lot of social ills IMHO. Maybe we should all try it.
As an ex-Texan, I have lost all respect for that state's oppressive government and the sheeple that allow it. Texas CPS continues throwing stuff at the wall hoping something will stick.
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one big happy family | 5:32 p.m. May 9, 2008
Call it a commune or a cult or "religion"; the facts are the same; children raised in unsafe circumstances that guarantee each and every child will in turn be abused.

No identifiable family unit smaller than the entire group.
All children subject to the whims of one man.
Children brainwashed to accept statutory rape as a normal activity.
Most "wives" having multiple children without any legal husband.
Children with no idea who their actual mother or father are.

The more we learn the worse it gets.

Texas officials should be applauded.

Call it a commune or a cult or "religion"; the facts are the same; children raised in unsafe circumstances that guarantee each and every child will in turn be abused.
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to one big happy family | 6:17 p.m. May 9, 2008
Many cultures outside the USA live as one big happy family. They are happy because they have adult role models who are home instead of babysitters, day care centers, and teachers who do not care for the child as much as a relative or close friend would. A lot of children have several moms, stepmom, adopted mom, etc. There are many women with multiple children by multiple man, who are unfortunately not involved in bringing the child(ren) up.
Just the thought of someone coming in and removing my children because they do feel threatened by my peculiar believes is criminal. You must not have children or you'd never even come close to calling it justifiable for Texas to rip the children from their homes and mothers. I have no respect for Texas and hope some higher power will finally intervene.
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Thomas | 6:25 p.m. May 9, 2008
All the women see themselves as mothers to all ths children. All the chidren look uopn themselves as brothers and sisters. That is so evil. CPS, are you serious? Call a halt to this legalized kidnapping and return the children
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Matthew | 6:50 p.m. May 9, 2008
At last they've come clean. This is all about religion. Apparently they don't teach anything about the US Constitution in the Texas Public School System.

Down with the Texas Tyrants!
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one big happy family redux | 6:50 p.m. May 9, 2008
These "mothers" groomed their daughters to be sexual abuse victims then turned them over to that fate. When everyone is your mother no one is. The children were not ripped from their "home" because CPS felt threatened by FLDS beliefs, but because those beliefs guaranteed that every child in FLDS would eventually be abused. A higher power HAS intervened, CPS was an instrument of salvation for FLDS victim/children.
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Tom | 7:04 p.m. May 9, 2008
Yikes, Texas is sounding a bit fascist these days.
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Amazed | 7:17 p.m. May 9, 2008
They aren't even trying to pretend it's not about religion. They know children can't be taken because of a belief system. It's actions-not beliefs.

As for the opportunity to cross examine - in no way did each parent get that opportunity. Let's say mother with a 13 year old girl was planning to leave if her daughter was ever order to marry under 18, but just did not want to announce that fact. Why should she have her children taken away?

Does anyone know how long it will take to get to Federal Court? Since Texas judges are elected, they will do anything, even if it is unconstitutional, to make these simple minded Texas people happy.
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Tom | 7:27 p.m. May 9, 2008
To: The Raven

I really don't think it's fair to blame them for anything in this case. They have been rather supportive of the FLDS during this ordeal.
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Tom | 7:29 p.m. May 9, 2008
I was referring to the ACLU as the ones who have been supportive of the FLDS during this ordeal. Sorry for my lack of cognition tonight.
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Hal | 7:40 p.m. May 9, 2008
Ignorant and selfish people should not be allowed to redefine familial relationships as the polygamists in Texas and the news media seems bent on doing. Older men should not have dictatorial control of others and young girls and boys as well as their mothers should not go like sheep to the slaughter for a selfish man's desire. We the public are also being manipulated through this mess they have created.
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asd | 7:52 p.m. May 9, 2008
During the hearing,

attorneys for parents and children said they had certified birth certificates, social security numbers, Texas drivers licenses and even tax returns that could be used ....to validate names and ages.

But Voss said the documents would not be acceptable, suggesting some certificates might be forged.

And Judge Barbara Walther agreed.

"How do you know, in today's world of identity theft, a birth certificate is proof of who they are?" the judge asked
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Brooke | 8:34 p.m. May 9, 2008
This is all about religion. In my church, Not FLDS, we call each other brother and sister. We behave as one happy family. Removing the children was done illegally under the color of the law with machine guns and badges. I would hope that common sense appeals court judges will honor our Constitution and tell Texas they can't mess with the 1st Amendment!!! There is no child abuse, only a hoax phone call. Judge Barbara Walther has a hidden religious agenda to destroy this faith.
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Thomas | 8:38 p.m. May 9, 2008
Under the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of Reynolds v. U.S. (which also focused on polygamy), government can regulate people's actions even if they're rooted in religious belief, but it can't regulate religious belief itself.

Texas looks like it's pushing the envelope of this 100+ year old precedent. It's making a case that it can penalize people, by taking away their children, based specifically on what they believe -- not on anything they've actually done.
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Re - Brooke | 8:43 p.m. May 9, 2008
Brooke - wow - you couldn't be more wrong... these kids were having their rights abused every day and you think thats ok. I don't even know what to say, except that if you cared about the kids (instead of the parents) then you would be on Texas' side... It's too bad so many posters are all worried about the parents rights but care nothing about the rights of those kids confined behind those walls and guardtower for life, never getting to fulfill their dreams and ambitions. So sad... Free the kids - give them a life that they choose rather than their parents. Stop the brainwashing.
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RE: Re- Brooke | 8:58 p.m. May 9, 2008
"Free the kids - give them a life that they choose rather than their parents. Stop the brainwashing."

Then this applies to every kid in every school in the country. Kids only go to school because someone says they must. Ask any kid why they go to school!!
In inner city school, kids make the choice to go do something other than school every day.
Free the kids, what an absurd statement!! Come free me, I don't want to go to work anymore!! My parents made me go to work 50 years ago!!
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