Polygamous dad speaks out month after ranch raid |
By Brooke Adams The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Tribune |
Article Last Updated:05/05/2008 12:43:20 AM MDT |
ELDORADO, Texas - As Richard Barlow walked eight of his children to a bus that would take them away from the YFZ Ranch, he gave each one advice. "I spoke very freely. I said, 'Let us be at peace,' " he said. And: "Be strong." That was a month ago. Today his children are scattered from one end of Texas to the other and he and his wife, Susan, are desperate to see them. Only a few men who lived with their families at the ranch, all members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, have spoken out since the April 3 raid that led to removal of 464 children because of abuse allegations. Most fear doing so will make them targets of prosecution or hamper their efforts to bring their children home. But Barlow, 40, decided to take that risk to share how the event has torn apart his family. Barlow, a college graduate, was 23 when he married 20-year-old Susan, his legal wife. Their first child, a daughter, is now 15. Seven more children followed, ages 4 to 13. He has two plural wives, according to court documents, both of whom his attorney says were 18 when they married. One woman has five children. The other has none. As Texas authorities swept through the ranch, Barlow and his family watched and waited at their home. "It was an exercise on me to calm my own feelings," he said. The family packed bags for the children and, finally, officers came to their door April 6. Barlow said he told the armed rangers he opposed the search and wanted a lawyer. Even so, he told the officers, "I am at peace, we are at peace." His family then did as told, gathering the children and walking them to the buses. Susan went with her children but early on was separated from five of them. She stayed at the San Angelo Coliseum with the youngest: Arta Mae, 7; Rulon, 5; and Joseph, 4. Four daughters - Lydia, 15; Vera, 13; Lola, 10; and Viola, 8 Ð were put in the Wells Fargo Pavilion in San Angelo. Edward, 11, was sent to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. On April 24, Susan was among the women sent away as the state prepared to move the children to group homes. She said her youngest clung to her skirt and pleaded to stay with her. Texas Child Protective Services initially pledged it would keep siblings together, but later acknowledged that has not happened in every case. The eight Barlow children are in five different locations, ranging from Cal Farley's in Amarillo to Kidz Harbor in Liverpool. While Vera and Viola are at the Baptist children's ranch in Gonzales, Lola is an hour away at Boysville in San Antonio. "Lydia, Edward and Lola are each alone, without a sibling to comfort them," Barlow said. The couple said they gave the state accurate names and birth dates for all of their children. And later they submitted DNA samples. "We have nothing to hide," said Susan, 37. But Barlow does have a plural family, which is something he declines to discuss in any detail. As for underage marriage, neither he nor Susan supports it and both believe their own children should be adults before they marry. "Underage marriage is not one of our doctrines or covenants," he said. Barlow said he is "baffled and confused" about CPS methods and feels "I have to pray over everything I receive from CPS to even understand whether it is true or another gimmick," he said. As the Barlows work to see their children, other FLDS parents have begun fanning out across Texas. Many are relocating to cities where their children are now living in hopes of being able to see them regularly. Over the weekend, more vehicles left the ranch, loaded with suitcases. Jim, who gave only his first name as he was leaving, has five children - three boys, two girls - placed across the state. "We're going to get them back with the Lord's help," he said. Which is what Barlow is banking on. "I miss my little children but I am thankful and pray that the Lord will bless those caring over them that they will be kind and considerate," he said. |
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune |
The Salt Lake Tribune continues its mission of reminding mormons that they, in whatever guise, are the persecuted, maligned victims.
Hopefully this is just paranoia. It would be a shame to think the state would use their investigative powers to silence anybody who is critical about what they are doing.
Texas Child Protective Services initially pledged it would keep siblings together, but later acknowledged that has not happened in every case. The eight Barlow children are in five different locations, ranging from Cal Farley's in Amarillo to Kidz Harbor in Liverpool. While Vera and Viola are at the Baptist children's ranch in Gonzales, Lola is an hour away at Boysville in San Antonio.
The state said that to get some of the critics off their back. Apparently they had no interest in keeping their word, and no need to do so legally.
"Lydia, Edward and Lola are each alone, without a sibling to comfort them," Barlow said.
The couple said they gave the state accurate names and birth dates for all of their children. And later they submitted DNA samples.
I know, we can't believe a word these evil people say -- but do we have any evidence from the state that this is a lie?
In the absense of any other evidence, this is an example of a family, together, which was not practicing any of the horrors mentioned, where the mothers were all 18, and where the children are NOT being married off, and won't be. One where the family does not BELIEVE in underage marriages.
They do believe in men having sex with other adult women than their wives. That is not generally considered child sex abuse, and is not normally a reason to take a person's kids away.
I suppose you could argue that teaching your children that they can have sex outside of a single-woman marriage is child abuse, but then we'd have to round up the kids of most planned parenthood members.
I know this story was intended to pull at my heartstrings; but for that reason I am leery of the facts as this man states them. Having said that, one of the biggest complaints that I have heard against CPS in their dealings with people everywhere is that they often tell parents one thing and do another. Some of this is “excused” as telling people what they want to hear to avoid violence- etc. It really does bother me though when officials seem to lie to folks. From what has been reported it does seem like CPS and other officials have said several things that they have not abided by; like keeping siblings together, etc. Why can’t the officials just tell the adults that what happens will be determined by state law, a thorough investigation, and or a judge. I don’t believe officials should lie to people for whatever reason- just doesn’t sit right with me.
I know when CPS visited our home, the investigator told us he found nothing to support the report they got on my daughter and we believed him. We were told later by people that worked with CPS that what they tell you isn’t always how it is and they have told people everything was all right and come back later and taken children. For a while after the visit from CPS I was very fearful of them, I found out they have a great deal of power, and I found out they aren’t always straight with those they take action against. I was paranoid about every scratch my grandson got, and didn’t want him to play and get dirty- it was crazy- I never want that kind of fear. Just don’t understand why the dishonesty- or at least the appearance of it.