Posted on 06/07/2008 4:39:31 PM PDT by JRochelle
Gov. Rick Perry hinted Thursday that members of a polygamist sect whose children were recently returned amid a botched sex-abuse investigation should pack their bags, a newspaper reported.
Perry, who was in La Baule, France, for a European business conference, said that the state of Texas has an obligation to protect young women from being forced into marriage and underage sex, The Dallas Morning News reported in its online edition.
He also warned members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that child sex abuse won't be tolerated and even suggested that followers of the renegade Mormon sect may want to get out.
"If you are going to conduct yourself that way, we are going to prosecute you," Perry said. "If you don't want to be prosecuted for those activities, then maybe Texas is not the place you need to consider calling home."
Willie Jessop, an FLDS elder who lives in Utah, said Perry's remarks were shocking, particularly given a Texas Supreme Court ruling that forced this week's return of 440 sect children on the grounds that child welfare officials provided scant evidence that the children were in danger.
"It's an outrage that he should even make such gross and broad allegations," Jessop said. "He's listening to people that tell lies about the FLDS."
FLDS officials have accused the state of persecuting sect members for their religious beliefs.
Texas authorities raided the sprawling compound in west Texas in early April after three calls to a domestic abuse hot line, purportedly from a 16-year-old mother who said she was being abused by her middle-aged husband. The calls are now being investigated as a hoax.
Perry said that using the information state authorities had at the time, "they acted with the best interest of those children."
"If responsibility needs to be taken for (court edicts) saying that we stepped across some legal line, I'll certainly take that responsibility," the governor said.
Jessop, who has insisted that children at the ranch were not mistreated, has sidestepped questions about underage marriages at the Yearning for Zion ranch. But he did announce this week that the church would no longer sanction marriages of any girl too young to give legal consent.
Though the children have been returned, a criminal investigation continues.
That is the way it looks : )
“Our side so far has all of the evidence and court rulings to support our case. “
Your side? Are you referring to those dirty old men who rape those young kids, get them pregnant, and make slaves out of them for the rest of their miserable lives? Glad to hear the law is on their side, too bad for the CHILDREN who are the real victims in all of this. Your side, eh?
You’re exactly right, only time will tell. I can honestly say I don’t have a thing against Mormons (my sister is one), other than theology, most of them are great people to be friends with and we have more in common (politically) than we have not in common.
I don’t know why this became a religious *war*.
susie
I can see why the reporters would resent it just a little, especially when done by someone who is in the process of disagreeing with you. Gosh, I thought we were all past that!
susie
“Thank you and your comments here have been anti FLDS.”
I really don’t think you are pro FLDS. You are just concerned with the ‘law’ and constitution.
That is why I don’t understand why you have to make it an emotional issue, and a religious issue, by referring to anyone who disagrees with you as ‘anti-FLDS’.
I want to see Warren Jeffs ‘control’ of the YFZ Ranch completely destroyed, and the top ‘henchmen’ as well.
In the meantime, the good people of the FLDS can go back to their practice of religion, and more power to them.
They may end up being right, about the end of the world coming soon, and I don’t blame them for sticking together, and putting walls around their temple.
I wish I had a temple like that, but I’d put 20’ walls around it.
Like the Bible says, remove the log in your eye, before complaining about the splinter in someone elses.
No what it means is that the FLDS in YFZ are a handpicked group that may not have committed a crime. What better way for a criminal to beat the justice system than by refusing to commit a crime, especially if it can make them wealthy. They knew that there was going to be an investigation. They aren't stupid.
But, it makes me ask, what would you do, if you were in the same situation?
I would do what the State of Utah did. Investigate, prosecute and convict. Simple.
Ok, fair enough. I’m not crazy about him, but I’ve been in FL most of his term in office, so I haven’t seen it up close and personal. On the other hand my Rep is Wexler, so almost anyone seems better! ;)
susie
Stopping here and LOL without reading anything else>
There's a baiter on this thread. He's so good at it he might even be a master at it. What would that make him?
Obviously you are confused. Conspiracy is a crime. Try again. The fourth amendment is very clear.
It seems the problem with the Waco and Ruby Ridge cases was that they DIDN’T remove the children, and ensure their safety.
Now you compare it to the YFZ Ranch, where they did remove them?
What kind of logic is that?
So say you. You’re welcome to your opinion, even if it’s not right....
susie
So do mean he might be a master baiter?
I’m not saying and I’m blushing!
That is your problem, you don't understand who the victims are. We are all victims when the government violates anyones constitutional rights.
BTTT
“There have been no arrests. What are you talking about?”
Exactly. So they have nothing to do with the children being removed from a dangerous environment, until the evidence is processed and reviewed, and arrests can be made.
“If the parents aren’t found guilty of crimes the children should be returned.”
Well, once again we have reality. The children were returned, and the investigation into the crimes hasn’t finished yet, so the alleged perps haven’t had a chance to be found ‘guilty’ or ‘innocent’.
No, but that is not what the law states. The children can be removed from a dangerous environment until the investigation is completed, and arrests are made.
The difference in this case was the Judge was overruled in her decision that the children ALL were in ‘imminent’ danger. That is all.
Time will prove you wrong.
The raid was unconstitutional from step one.
What the later Court decisions showed is that our system isn’t broken, but CPS tried. They are stupid, emotional, and they failed to manage a run on the Constitution.
Juries will find for FLDS in the millions.
“when a governor tells a bunch of people who he doesn’t like to get out of the state, it’s exactly like the bad old days of racism.”
So, if the Governor were to say , after a raid on a MAFIA Headquarters, the same thing, then would that be ‘racist’?
In spite of blustering, bluffing Big Willie Jessop,
the fLDS cant afford to be cross examined in court...
They wont stand up to scutiny..
They have too much to hide...
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