What do you think about the courts in Texas over-ruling the states decision to remove the polygamist's kids?

Question

What do you think about the courts in Texas over-ruling the states decision to remove the polygamist's kids?

Answer 1

The situation concerning the FLDS members in El Dorado is all sorts of messed up on a variety of issues.

On one side is a this religious group:

(1) Whether you agree with their religion or agree with polygamy- it is their right to choose to believe as they will and to live as they will. Or so sayeth the constitution- as long as we still have a constitution- last I checked, its still around.

(2) Polygamy is not uncommon in this world. Just because its not a common practice in the US does not make it wrong. As long as ALL parties involved in ALL have equal choice in the arrangement, that is their business.

(3) But because they are different, people will assume the worst. Its assumed: there MUST be abuse going on, why else would they build a compound and surround it by 20' tall walls! And stones are thrown.

On the other side is the LONG list of mistakes the authorities made in this case:

(1) Neither police nor CPS confirmed the identity of the girl who made the initial call to 911 before going in.

(2) Authorities entered the compound with a SWAT team and a tank; WITHOUT a search warrant.

(3) The girl who made the initial call has NEVER been identified.

(4) The children were all removed without proof of abuse or neglect.

(5) Too many were taken for the state to be able to handle. So children were separated from their mothers and siblings as they are shipped to foster homes and orphanages around the state. Imagine the fear and confusion- especially when they are only allowed visits from their parents once a month; the only person who has regular access to them is their court appointed lawyer.

In this mess they not only had 400 children- but they've identified adult women as well that were in the round up. Women whom the authorities thought looked like teenaged mothers and so grabbed them as well. Three have already been released- it took weeks to get CPS and the courts to "recognize" them as adults despite having birth certificates on hand. And there could be more such mis-identified women.

The other big mess on their hands is the task of returning the children. Which raises another flag- the state will take advantage of the fact the Supreme Court did not specify a deadline by when the children are to be returned. "CPS has argued that it cannot return all the children because it does not know for certain the children's parentage without results from DNA testing done last month. The ruling gives no deadline by which children must be returned -- and clearly provides Walther a path by which the state can maintain control of the children and their parents while CPS continues its investigation."

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/ma...

There's no telling when these kids will be reunited with their parents!

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I personally- don't approve of arranged marriages or marriages involving girls between the ages of 12 & 16 to men as old as 50. But then you have to consider that there are MANY countries in this world where that is normal- from South America to Indonesia, and just as equally, there are MANY religions that permit such marriages. For many of us- we find it hard to not assume abuse because we find it difficult to believe a 13 year-old girl would CHOOSE to marry a 40 year-old with or without God telling her that He approves-- because do you really feel like you have a choice when your religious leader tells you to do it for God.

However. Who are we to say this particular FLDS group is wrong- all we can do is hope that the young "brides" are not victims of arranged sexual abuse.

Unfortunately, the state acted too harshly, hastily and inefficiently. If there is abuse going on behind closed doors on this compound- we will likely never know now. This group will shut its doors ever tighter against the world or move out of the state entirely where they can rebuild out of the eyes of the media. The losers in this case are the police and CPS- they look like hotheaded, gun-toting cowboys looking to pick a fight versus the hundreds of innocent children. This will be an ugly bruise for Texas to bear for some time, in my opinion.

Answer 2

It's stupid, but there wasn't solid proof

Answer 3

I think when it's kids and sexual abuse concern, you have to take them and just monitor and counsel each one to make sure all is well, it's just harder to cope when there's 400 children, best wishes and I hope they get to go back to their moms soon

Answer 4

The raids were illegal so the law is clear. The kids must go back to their parents. Good decision.

Answer 5

I do not think things are going to change although those children should have had enough time to get a different perspective of how things are for us other people so maybe there will be a few who might rebel and cause a bit of a stir now within the compound.   I think taking them out was good but these poor girls need to be a little more educated on how wrong this religion they have been forced to submit to is.  And that there are other choices out there!