In the Texas raid, 416 children were removed from the ranch and placed in state custody. They are in temporary shelters and face a series of court hearings beginning April 17.
Investigators said Thursday they have left the YFZ ranch. The investigation, which also involves the FBI, is continuing.
In Hildale and Colorado City, people are reluctant to speak with outsiders, much less go on the record. Their responses ranged from indignation to resigned vows to leave matters up to the Lord.
“It’s very unjustified. It’s — it’s religious persecution,” said a woman who would not give her name.
A man who identified himself only as Nephi said he will remain prayerful and dedicated to his church.
“I think I am going to be at peace about it. It’s in the Lord’s hands. And we will leave it at that,” he said.
Marlene Hammon, a plural wife, was a small child when the Short Creek raid took place. She remembers being very frightened by the threat of being separated from her five mothers and 38 siblings.
Fawneta Carroll was 7 when she was separated from her family in the 1953 raid. She returned to polygamy and believes one of her 24 sisters was in the Texas compound with her children.
“If there is abuse, that should be investigated and taken care of,” she said. “But I do not see how you can use that to justify taking 416 children out of their homes and away from their families.”
Priscilla Hammon was born just after the raid and also lives in a polygamous marriage. She says she has many children and grandchildren, and that the threat of being separated by outsiders is always there. advertisement
The children are scared, she says.
“How can I possibly promise my children nothing will happen to them, when I see something like this taking place?”
Another day, another hour of CNN blasting out yet more sordid details of child molestation in the name of God. Endless fascination with the religion (and the strange and obviously abusive practices of it) and the quest to get closer and finally onto the compound to see the faithful.
Isn’t it interesting how politically correct the whole thing is? Where exactly are real ministers who know enough philosophy to stand up and call this whole thing what it is? Not once have I ever heard anyone grow the balls large enough to actually question the religion itself.
It’s really simple actually:
“Did God create man in the image of Himself? If so, then doesn’t it make sense that any person who, in the name of God, espouses treating people in a way that harms that image has to be preaching a false gospel as no sane creator harms what He has made?”
If the above is true, how about we look at the wreaked lives of these people, toss this out as a nonviable religion and just start just calling it an act of criminal mind control??? (It’s deserving of about as much special recognition/protection under law as one drunk beating up another by hitting him with a Bible.)
Oh yes, perhaps then we can also apply this to Fundamentalist Evangelical Christianity… Ah, I get it — ok, never mind… It’s our God ordained right to treat people like that…
On second thought, WE MUST STAND FIRM FOR FLDS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. Our fundamental RIGHTS and FREEDOMS are at stake… [SIGH]
