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Sunday, April 27, 2008

Sweep Of Polygamists’ Kids Raises Legal Questions

By MICHELLE ROBERTS

SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) - The state of Texas made a damning accusation when it rounded up 462 children at a polygamous sect’s ranch: The adults are forcing teenage girls into marriage and sex, creating a culture so poisonous that none should be allowed to keep their children.

But the broad sweep - from nursing infants to teenagers - is raising constitutional questions, even in a state where authorities have wide latitude for taking a family’s children.

The move has the appearance of “a class-action child removal,” said Jessica Dixon, director of the child advocacy center at Southern Methodist University’s law school in Dallas.

“I’ve never heard of anything like that,” she said.

[...]

Religious persecution and abuse of authority?

Could be.

Comments

I believe this was an abuse of authority. It is one thing to react to a charge of abuse and to go in and try and find the accuser and remove her to safety during an investigation; but whether they find her or not, to use that charge to separate families, send kids to foster homes and talk about adoptions, etcetera, absent evidence prior to the invasion of their homes, is I believe a violation of their right to privacy and religious freedom.

Granted, any actual evidence of crimes should be investigated and children protected; but surely there should be credible evidence that support such actions prior to the authorities taking any action.


No matter the age or state of health, for a military man it is always glorious to tilt at windmills, rescue a fair Dulcinea and be a gallant knight in armor in a glorious cause.

Neiman on April 27, 2008 at 11:26 am

R108:

I’m glad you posted this. I saw it and decided not to post it because I’ve already beaten the subject to death.

This is one of the purest abuses of power I’ve ever seen. One of the couples whose children were taken don’t even practice polygamy - they’re legally married with kids just like anyone else. But their kids are taken away, too.

At the risk of sounding melodramatic - this smacks of nothing short of facism.


The future ain’t what it used to be.....

Pilgrim on April 27, 2008 at 12:56 pm

Pil: I say again: I have heard that this stunt was for the purpose of eliminating Mitt Romney as a potential VP for McCain.  Strangely enough, it hasn’t harmed Harry Reid, who is also a Mormon.  Hmmmm....


"Give the lefties a pile of money, and they’ll spend it buying votes.” - Rush Limbaugh on the “bailout”.

robert108 on April 27, 2008 at 01:08 pm

Pilgrim.  I agree with you completely.  This must be rectified, and quickly.  This is an example of prejudice if I ever saw one.  Talk about “praying while an FLDS”!


Communism is evil

Chief RZ on April 27, 2008 at 03:32 pm
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