Quote:
For more than a century, authorities had alternately persecuted and ignored the groups practicing plural marriage around the West -- splinters from mainstream Mormonism, splinters of splinters. Mostly, they ignored them.
But, in the past few years, officials in some states have begun trying to bring these groups out of the shadows. They offered a deal: Marry however often you want, but don't marry children.
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Seems to me, this part of your post is the crux of the matter. If they hadn't been having sex with children, there would have been no incursion on the 'ranch'.
If they were just a bunch of adults who decided to shack up together and have sex with whoever they felt spiritually married to, it wouldn't be a big deal. Adults shack up all the time. It may be immoral, but not necessarily illegal.
But when you start to give and take children in marraige, and then teach those children that they are expected to be married to their uncle, or cousin, or whoever when they turn 13 or 14, then it does become a problem. We all know that you think that polygamy is a good thing, Fiannan, and in some instances, it can be, but the brand that the FLDS are practicing is not good. It is a perversion of God's ways and will, and disgusting.
Do I agree with all the things the Texans have done in this case? No. I thought the way they took the children was the wrong way to do it. I would have done it a different way. I'm not so sure that splitting up and sending all of those kids out to foster homes was such a good idea either. I think it shows a lack of respect and understanding of the situation. Many things in the situation could and should have been done differently. But to ignore that fact that many of these children were being sexually abused in an ongoing manner is wrong as well. The practices had to be stopped, and stopped immediately.
The problem, is the FLDS have become a closed society. It is difficult, if not impossible, to get these people, especially the children, to tell authorities just exactly what is going on in that society. The texans have had little to go on other than physical evidence, like pregnant young girls who obviously are not adults. They have been conditioned to not open up to strangers, and I would not be surprised if they are uncooperative with anyone outside their society.
I think that is why Texas decided to split them up, to see if they can get some of the children to talk to someone outside their society, and get evidence against the leaders of their abusive cult. I don't know if that tactic will work, but it looks to me like that is what they are doing. Time will tell if Texas will win this one, but I am afraid they have made too many missteps even though they were well-intentioned and for a good cause.