Women of polygamist retreat speak out
Women of polygamist retreat speak out
By JENNIFER DOBNER and MICHAEL GRACZYK, Associated Press Writers 31 minutes ago
ELDORADO, Texas - 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 children into custody.
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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 children 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 chickenpox, 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.
An aerial view of the temple at the Yearn for Zion Ranch, wned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints near Eldorado, Texas. State investigators say they have discovered a bed inside thelygamist compound temple that was reserved for husbands -- often middle-aged men -- to have sex for the first time with their underage 'wives.
"Quite frankly, I'm not sure what we're going to do," Texas 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."
Residential structures are seen along a road that leads to the main temple, top rear, on the grounds of the 'Yearning For Zion' Ranch, home of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Eldorado, Texas, Tuesday, April 8, 2008. State troopers and child welfare officials have been searching the compound since Thursday, after a 16-year-old girl called a family violence shelter to report her 50-year-old husband was beating and raping her.
By JENNIFER DOBNER and MICHAEL GRACZYK, Associated Press Writers 31 minutes ago
ELDORADO, Texas - 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 children into custody.
ADVERTISEMENT
click here
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 children 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 chickenpox, 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.
An aerial view of the temple at the Yearn for Zion Ranch, wned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints near Eldorado, Texas. State investigators say they have discovered a bed inside thelygamist compound temple that was reserved for husbands -- often middle-aged men -- to have sex for the first time with their underage 'wives.
"Quite frankly, I'm not sure what we're going to do," Texas 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."
Residential structures are seen along a road that leads to the main temple, top rear, on the grounds of the 'Yearning For Zion' Ranch, home of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Eldorado, Texas, Tuesday, April 8, 2008. State troopers and child welfare officials have been searching the compound since Thursday, after a 16-year-old girl called a family violence shelter to report her 50-year-old husband was beating and raping her.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by July Evening Starr on -
Maybe because we are?
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Permalink Reply by SIN on -
Me too, I'd like to know for a fact that there was a phone call to begin with. If you view the slide-show, you should pay special attention to the commentary below each photo. I counted over 20 times where they listed 'the 16 year old who called in that stated she was being raped and beaten' and it wasn't even relative to the photo being shown. Most of the report shows the group in a negative light, but I'd like to know for certain that these people are in fact coupling children with old men - before we send the Lynch Mob. It could be a case of religious prosecution, you know how much fundamentalists hate polyamory. My initial reaction to the story stands, if its proven that young girls are being placed with old men - I could give a shit if they are run off to the edge of the earth. If its not proven, I say leave the people to their worship and lifestyle.
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Permalink Reply by Monica on -
We don't even know the whole issue either we must remember that what the media tells is is what the police and whomever (authority wise) wants us to know. Maybe they are keeping this girls identity secret for her protection. I've watched the news about this and a woman spoke of (she left the ranch but her ex and the kids stayed there) that when they (the kids left) came to live with her.. it took them 3 yrs to tell them of the sexual abuse they went through while living there. or i can't exactly remember now that i think of it, it could have been that same one or a different "ranch" that was just like that.
If i secretly reported sexual abuse I would want the authorities to bust on in there too without other question.
Again I stress that we don't know the full story and we won't for a while
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Permalink Reply by Pat Riley on -
I Think if the kids talk that we might find out quite a bit. Especially the little kids. But If as Officilans say they found a bed in the Church for pedifiles to use in raping underaged girls geld them all!
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Permalink Reply by Celticlass...FAERIE QUEEN on -
They found the bed in the church,temple,sactuary.............sickos..........hopefuly the spirit will give some of the babies the power to reveal all of this.......
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Permalink Reply by SIN on
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The bed doesn't prove it was used for sex. When interviewing members, it was used for 'rest' at times when they spend several hours in prayer. They said they can have up to 6 beds in a temple at any given time, so if a person felt tired, sick or faint from the prayer sessions they could lay down. They are speculating it was for sex, speculation and proof are two entirely different things.
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Permalink Reply by Tiffany aka Glittertits on -
Come to think of it, even if they are married of to older men if their parents are giving consent then nothing Illegal has been going on.
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Permalink Reply by SIN on
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Precisely, and yet?
Some of these marriages occurred, when the legal age to marry was 14 (with parents consent) in TX. Later, the age of consent is raised to 16. So, where's the crime?
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Permalink Reply by Infidel Warlord on -
The state made them criminals.
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Permalink Reply by SIN on
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The very state, where the laws were not broken (except by the State). [shakes head] I can't believe the American people are letting them get away with this.
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Permalink Reply by Infidel Warlord on
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The sheeple are and there seems to be more of them than real citizens.
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