Comments about ‘Red tape threatens home for 'Lost Boys'’

Can these boys be adopted?

Why is it so hard for bureacery to help those in need? Why is it that good people always have to struggle to help? Give these kids a chance at life.

If these boys were Hispanic or of Asian descent, perhaps there wouldn't be quite so much red tape to deal with. Ya think??????? This is a sad commentary for America.

It sounds like the organizers didn't follow all the rules for zoning approval and I do not think the government should play favorites for a "good cause" (otherwise you put the government in the role of deciding what is and what is not a "good cause").

I do think however that the Mayor or City Council could sponsor and request the Zoning Board to issue a temporary special use permit pending completion of the proper process for approval, with a clear caveat that the special use permit could be revoked and the home shut down if there are any zoning type problems (traffic, etc) while approval is being sought.

I also have worked with "lost Boys" but on a different level. I hope that the state will realize what a community service this shelter is. The boys I have worked with had no place to go and so I raised them. I see many "lost children" and no were for these to go.

RObert
The Refuge/Chelonia Ministries.

I don't understand the comment in the story that the parents of these kids didn't have a choice, but to go along with their kids getting kicked out. That makes no sense to me. I understand they are brainwashed and threatened with going to hell, but if the kids can "sin" and get kicked out, I as a parent would do the same. It's not that they don't have a choice. It's that these parents will believe this so called prophet over their children. Even though this is brainwashing at its finest, don't give the parents no responsibility. If their kids are smart enough to figure it out, the parents should be way ahead of them. Consider as well that many of these parents were brought up outside this church and joined later, so they know both sides of the story. Maybe I am just not so stuck in my ways that I can't see the light.

Michelle-
I don't believe that the FLDS church has many converts as you are implying by stating "consider as well that many of these parents were brought up outside this church and joined later." Are you thinking of the LDS church with its worldwide missionary program? The FLDS church, the polygamist one, is a very closed organization that shuns outsiders.

My parents live in St. George and I lived in Salt Lake. Both my parents and I know people who "converted" to the FLDS church as adults. I know one woman who married a man as one of his wives and then later divorced him. She told me awful stories of their lives. She divorced him b/c she woke up and saw the truth of this lifestyle. You're right that there are not a lot of converts, but I do know that parents should protect their children no matter what religion they are in. I think there are a lot of problems in many families, where the acts of the parents are blamed on religion. I would leave a religion before I would allow my children to be harmed by it.

In addition, the FLDS church, does not shun all outsiders. My parents regularly buy produce and dairy from Colorado City; my mother works with many polygamist wives; the wives attend college and receive degrees so they can support their husbands lifestyles. On top of all that, my mom says many of these wives have boyfriends on the side and regularly visit the local bars. So, I'm not so sure this is even brainwashing as it is selfishness. I don't even know how to categorize these people.

Our family would be glad to help any of these kids. My heart goes out to all of them. Send them to NM.

Anyone who wants to help can send money to the Wells Fargo account listed and offer to volunteer. It's nice to know that there are people wanting to help.

I suppose this puts a fairly large hole in the victimless crime slant on polygamy.