Comments about ‘ACLU, child abuse attorney file supporting papers in FLDS case’

they always favor abusers over children

We can thank the ACLU for stepping up to the plate on this one great day for freedom for parents

Just finished reading the ACLU brief.
I want to thank the ACLU for submitting this brief to the Supreme court of Texas a little late but better late then never.

Well, it's about time, ACLU! Will you also fight for the right to take part in polygamy (or polygyny as FLDS are wont to say) and polyandrous relationships. If a mother says her leader who assigns 14-year-old girls to be married to cousins is perfect and that she intends to follow his every command with respect to her own children, she certainly should have that freedom. Until she actually marries off her kiddies to Warren Jeffs' minions, she is not committing a crime, and even then she can duck blame, letting the men take the heat. So let the lady go. Let her marry according to the dictates of her own conscience; let her and her children have sex how, where, or with whom they may.

I can't believe I'm saying this (I've never said it before), but here goes: I agree with the ACLU. If there is evidence of rape, abuse, etc. by all means investigate the specific cases/allegations and let the the perpetrators get what they deserve (prison, take their kids away, etc.) But with no evidence against a specific parent, don't punish them based on group association, stereotypes, or abuses done by other people (such as Warren Jeffs).

I realize polygamy itself is a crime, but I'm not convinced that depriving a parent of their children is the proper punishment for violating an anti-polygamy law is.

Typically, I am not an ACLU supporter. However, in this case I believe their involvement is warranted, especially for the hundreds of innocents currently being abused by the state of Texas capriciously. I am confident that no one wants "little girls raped" by anyone of any age or gender, nevertheless, with the careful scrutiny forth coming from the ACLU, perhaps only the guilty parties will be prosecuted and the innocents can escape the bigotry we have see practiced against them thus far.

If Rich would just take time to read the INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT contained in the ACLU brief, he would see how unfounded his comments are. Please give it a read before commenting. Thanks

While it's understandable where the ACLU is coming from, one needs to recognize that, unlike any other CPS case, child abuse is a part of this culture. CPS's goal must be to protect the female children from statutory rape/grooming and the male children from abandonment/molestation. Since this is such a unique and large problem, perhaps CPS has not come up with all of the answers. There is no precedent to indicate whether it is abuse to make a child sleep under the photo of a unrelated convicted sex offender.

As far as CPS knew at the ten day hearing, girls as young as 13 were affected. Now with the new photos, it appears that girls as young as 10,11 and 12 may be married or the subject of marriage discussions.

Looking at this from a practical view, it seems CPS would have to remove all girls from 10 upward and all boys from 12 upward along with all girls who have been victims of statutory rape and all of their siblings and all of the children in their husband's home. This can't be done without DNA samples and CPS failed miserably in collecting samples from those not in custody.

didn't think my opinion of FLDS or ACLU could go any lower than it was but when they team up the loathing meter goes off the chart.

finger in air- check
ascertain way wind is blowing- check
ride in to hog some attention- check

People need to review their beliefs concerning religious freedom and social order. The constitution is specific about making laws that restrict the practicing of religion. Anti polygamy laws as written and intended are unconstitutional. Most laws dealing with morality are. Imposing ones beliefs on others is the real crime. If your faith is strong it shouldn't make any difference what others believe or practice. Define instead what is truly ABUSE and enforce it. For centuries 14 year olds got married legally in Europe and this country. Review your history and live with it. If society truly believes that it has the right to impose its interpretation of morality on others, we are in deep trouble until we all agree on what is right. Even the bible seems to have passages that people can't agree on.

WOW! I agree with the ACLU on this one and for once I feel like they are doing what they set out to do. Good job ACLU!

I don't think it's emotionally or physically healthy for girls under 16 to be sexually active--married or single. But if they are going to be, is single, multiple partners, casual party sex, prostitution, sex for drugs,etc. any better? How are we going to stop the frequently older men from participating in all this? It all goes back to a person's belief system--what they think is okay behavior for themselves. It's a mess!

The ACLU stands up for civil liberties. The fact that you only NOW agree with them proves that you only care about civil liberties when your ox is the one being gored.

Go to work ACLU! Hurry and get those kids returned to the YFZ because Warren Jeffs is all out of 12 & 13 y/o girls to marry.

I thought it was just science fiction to attempt to predict the future and presume people are guilty of "Future Crimes".

Didn't Tom Cruise make a movie base on that concept and even with all the fictional technology they had to predict the future crimes it all fell apart?

So how does Texas CPS presume to be able to pre-determine (on the spot) that all 450 children were either being abused or would be "future-abused"?

Even more suspicious... they claim they could make this pre-determination based solely on where you live (the Ranch) or what church you go to (even scarier to me).

I'm not FLDS nor do I ignore the actual cimes in this case. I'm just not with all you, "GO TEXAS", "End justifies the means", "If they're FLDS their Bad", "Constitution is just a piece of paper", folks.

The aclu also support old men-young boy relationships (man-boy love).

Who should be surprised of them getting on this bandwagon?

Will the ACLU also fight for the fathers who have lost their children because Warren Jeffs banished them from the community and randomly reassigned their children to another man?

Will the ACLU fight for the rights of 14-year-old girls not to be forced to marry their grandfathers?

Will the ACLU fight for the rights of 14-year-old boys not to be kicked out of their families by a convicted rapist?

Didn't think so.

I never thought I would say it, but I agree with the ACLU in this case. I only wish they had made a filing earlier. I applaud them for doing this though.
You can not deney people their civil rights just because you disagree with their beliefs. Even the Utah Supreme Court has ruled such. Even when the state constitution makes something a crime you can not unilaterally deney those who do such all civil rights.

ACLU!!! Finally.