Women from polygamist sect say officials misled them

Houston Chronicle/AP ^ | 4-15-08 | JENNIFER DOBNER and MICHAEL GRACZYK

[Snickering Hound]

ELDORADO — Mothers separated from their children as part of a wide-ranging abuse investigation within a polygamist retreat accuse state officials of misleading them before taking their offspring into custody.

Authorities raided the sect's ranch more than a week ago in response to allegations that underage girls were forced to marry older men. Women and children from the secretive community were taken to a West Texas fort-turned-museum and a rodeo pavilion, but on Monday officials began separating women and some of their offspring without warning, members of the sect said.

While some women and children were taken from the shelters to the nearby San Angelo Coliseum, other women were allowed to return to the ranch — but only those who were childless or had children under the age of 5.

About three dozen of the women who returned to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ranch spoke out Monday, after 11 days in temporary shelters. They said in interviews that police surrounded them Monday and gave them a choice between returning home, or relocating to a women's shelter.

"It just feels like someone is trying to hurt us," said Paula, 38, who like other members of the sect declined to give her full name. "I do not understand how they can do this when they don't have a for sure knowledge that anyone has abused these children."

Marissa Gonzales, a spokeswoman for the Department of Family and Protective Services, said the move was a typical procedure taken by the agency.

"It is not the normal practice to allow parents to accompany the child when an abuse allegation is made," Gonzales said.

Brenda, a 37-year-old mother of two teenage boys, said the women were threatened with arrest if they resisted the court order. Previously, the women had been told they would stay with the children at least until Thursday, when a custody hearing is scheduled, she said.

A call to CPS for comment late Monday on the women's claims was not immediately returned.

CPS's closing of the shelters came a day after three mothers from the ranch petitioned Gov. Rick Perry to inspect the shelters to see firsthand how families were being treated. The women said the living conditions were cramped and that some of the children had become sick.

About 20 children were recovering from a mild case of chicken pox, said Dr. Sandra Guerra-Cantu with the state Health Department.

Perry spokesman Robert Black said the governor did not believe the children were being housed in poor conditions at the West Texas fort.

"Let's be honest here, this is not the Ritz," Black said. But he called the accommodations "clean and neat."

CPS said officials have been planning the move for a week but that the coliseum was unavailable earlier. About two dozen teenage boys were moved to a facility outside San Angelo with the judge's permission, CPS said. The location was not released.

The state is accusing the sect of physically and sexually abusing the youngsters and wants to strip their parents of custody and place the children in foster care or put them up for adoption. The sheer size of the case was an obstacle.

"Quite frankly, I'm not sure what we're going to do," state District Judge Barbara Walther said after a conference that included three to four dozen attorneys either representing or hoping to represent youngsters.

Brenda and others were critical of CPS, saying the agency misled them as to what was to happen Monday, weren't told why the children were removed from the compound and given inaccurate messages about opportunities to meet attorneys.

"We got to where we said, 'We cannot believe a word you say. We cannot trust you,'" she said.

Officials said the investigation began with a call from a young girl who has yet to be located by CPS. The women in the sect said they suspect she may be a bitter ex-member of the church.

The FLDS practice polygamy in arranged marriages, sometimes between underage girls and older men. The group has thousands of followers in two side-by-side towns in Arizona and Utah.

The church has repeatedly fought because of its lifestyle before. Men, women and children have been swept up in raids that took place in 1935, 1944 and 1953.

"It's been all through history, " said Brenda, the mother of two. "We were just here trying to live a peaceful, happy, sweet life. We don't understand why we can't do this freely."

[Godzilla]

‘__7__
(_____)>!

[Oztrich Boy]

Case histories likely show that young children are intimidated and afraid to tell the truth if either parent is present.

OTOH when they are questioned in the absence of their parents case histories definitely show they are really intimidated and eventually confirm whatever Janet Reno wants. And you get "Satanic Ritual Abuse in Day Care!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Deb]

You are exactly right. It’s a good thing Texas collected 16 million dollars more than they needed in taxes last year...they’ll need it.

[Balding_Eagle]

I am not a Mormon, a bigamist, nor a pedophile.

Take it from somone who has questioned the Constitutionally of this raid that you will be labled a pedophile if you continue to post this kind of stuff.

You've been warned!

[Palladin]

You’re full of accusations. Where is the evidence that any of these men have done what these women say they have done?

It’s a catfight in a harem.

I believe Texas allows 16 year old girls to get married.

You seem to have an intimate insider’s knowledge of all these weird polygamist habits.

You wouldn’t be one of the spurned wives now, would you?

[Deb]

So, none of this seems the least bit fishy? No 16 year old girl. One of "her" calls came from out of state. Some of the aid workers are admitting "...the police screwed up."

Funny how the press really loves any kind of child sex story. Living thru the McMartin travesty taught a lot of us to wait till the whole story plays out.

[Palladin]

This is all hearsay. Until the men are arrested, charged, and brought to trial, I can’t believe any of it.

This is one huge family feud between the women who “escaped” (the homely unfavored wives) and the ones who stayed (the pretty, favored ones).

It’s like any domestic dispute—wise not to get in between the warring parties.

I want to know how the state of Texas is going to get out of the mess they’ve gotten themselves into here.

[Balding_Eagle]

I’m thinking more and more it was a phony tip.

Take it from someone who has questioned the Constitutionally of this raid, that kind of talk is going to get you labled a rapist.

Admit it, you LIKE hearing about little girls being impregnated.

[53543freedom]

Think again There are TWO passages condemning polygamy:

Leviticus 18:18(ESV)—And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive.

Deuteronomy 17:17(ESV)—And he shall not acquire for himself many wives, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver or gold.

[Palladin]

The press is loving it because it’s a sensational soap opera with multiple wives and alleged child sex thrown in.

The media don’t seem to care about the implications of big government dividing families and separating young children from their mothers.

It’s like something out of Castro’s Cuba in the sixties, or Pol Pot’s re-education camps.

[najida]

Youtube and book by the former Mrs. Jessup. (Link anyone?)

[SkyPilot]

Fair enough.

I will give you links that the FLDS is involved in child rape and physical abuse.

How about an eye witness who escaped from the cult?

Moreover, the very same practices in her torment were going on in Texas. The informant said so, and the Texas Rangers said so. (Notice no Janet Reno here - people tend to lose their perspective about the dissimilarities in the cases).

So, here ya go. Watch, read, and then research Google for more if you wish. Or even more simply, search keywords here on FR for FLDS, LDS, or the like. I am sure you will find a plethora of information. However, please don't ask me to do your homework for you. It is all available.

Woman describes ‘escape’ from polygamy

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

P.S. If this doesn't convince you - then I can't help you see.

[najida]

Are you posting one handed?

Homely wives? Pretty wives? Cat fight in the harem?

OK, you’ve made metmom’s point and grey’s tagline.

No matter which side you’re on in this, that’s just creepy.

[semantic]

I suppose a 50+ year history of this group

If you read any historical accounts of the LDS dating back to the 1840/50s, you'll quickly see that Smith, Young & Co. were operating a sex pervert cult no different from the FLDS.

Ever wonder why the Mormons had to keep moving from place to place? Review the same concerns as with the FLDS: brainwashed minions, Smith/Young's insatiable lust, etc, etc. In that regard, the FLDS is the true Mormon church, and it is they who should be excommunicating the LDS elders in SLC.

OK, so it's pretty well established that the early Mormon church was a sex cult along the lines of the current FLDS. Problem is, why are they being persecuted and not other sex perverts? Take away the child molestation angle (assume individuals of majority age) and TX and other states are going to find it very difficult to reconcile condoning & licensing GLTG marriage/civil unions while prosecuting polygamy.

It's much cleaner to simply enforce one man, one woman, and leave it at that.

[metmom]

You wouldn’t be one of the spurned wives now, would you?

So what if she was? Does that change the fact of what's been going on here and that it's wrong?

The authorities have been on to this group for decades. There's 50+ ears of evidence and corroboration by people who have left the cult. Does that mean nothing to you?

Or are you one of the cult leaders defending this abominable, perverted lifestyle?

[SkyPilot]

The Mormons around here are not like the perverts.

Joseph Smith was a pervert. He raped many women, and called them "wives." Furthermore, I have been sickened to see LDS members attempt to justify polygamy as "beautiful", "moral" and "biblical" right here on Free Republic.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1997522/posts

The "Wives" of Joseph Smith

If Joseph Smith acted immorally - then his whole "Prophet" halo disintegrates. If that happens, the whole shebang of the LDS church unravels. Hence, we have been subjected to an all out assault by LDS members who want to defend polygamy and the "marrying" of little girls to 50+ year old men. I have never been as disturbed by members of FR as I have reading these threads who defend this because they fear the LDS church will be exposed for what it is. A sham.

[metmom]

Yeah, it’s just petty lies made up by jealous multiple wives, dontcha know?

Way to discredit these women and keep them in bondage.

Another perverted defender of polygamy and rape poking his head up.

[Godzilla]

Noticed the “early LDS” box to the lower left of Joey. It says polygamy ‘fell out of favor’. I guess thats what happens when the federal gov’t is moving in to enforce its laws. Nothing about the ‘sudden’ revelations to stop it from the living prophet and seer.

[ROLF of the HILL COUNTRY]

Thanks, I’ll check it out.

[metmom]

My understanding is they prosecute sex perverts when they can.

I don’t see that they are handling this case any different than any other alleged abuse case.

Even if they can’t get them on polygamy, there’s still the child sex abuse angle and welfare fraud.