I am not saying I am  agreeing  or disagreeing  with what this group teaches or does as a religious entity, however I would lke to put this into context on a global basis. The Moslem Mohammed married a 12 year old female to which she bore him children  a few centuries ago and one of many wives may I add.

Today in North america the practise of many wife's amongst Moslem men , four maximum so the teaching goes, is paracticed, although not necessarily shown in public documents or records. In Canada it is widely known that although Moslem Men can only be allowed one official married wife, they have three more wives, who in a lot of cases are receiving welfare cheques , to the same addresses. In fact a huge article was written up about this issue wherein it had the name on the article as  "Muslim Harems."

I say all this to state my point, if communities are going after this particular sect for practising what they beleive is what is allowed to them via the Bible( by the way Solomon in the old testament had over 900 wives and cocubines) are we to assume that this is wrong when put into what Moslem's practice, yes I know there is no compund per se ,however they do have many wives and it is known they follow Mohammed  and that some of these wives are equally young as those described in this article.

My thoughts are if we as a whole have a bias then by all means go after all groups who practice  having multiple wives, not just one or two.

Moslems maybe harder to catch, because they are not in some compound and are scattered, and more sneaky in trying to hide,  nevertheless however they do have multiple wives. So when does the government round up those families and young wives.

so are we going to after Muslims now knowing what they practice behind closed doors?

I don't know the answer, however if we are biased one way then let's include all just not the ones we feel more biased against when the practices appar to be the same!

I am suprised that no one has realized that these cults of poligamy are raising a vast army of followers that may try to take over the state or even the country by virtue of their overwelming birth rates. Thanks to our laws this is being stoped befor it is too late. I dont want a bunch of morons (mormans) in charge of annything to do with this country or its citizens.

Who wants to bet they find the skeletons of male children on the property?

YIKES!? Annie, what exactly did you just say?

Interesting collection of comments. I think this could be viewed from three different perspectives, and while I am, by far, not someone who claims to know everything, I will add my two cents in..
The first perspective is from a religious standpoint. While I neither endorse nor condone of polygamy, it is a part of some religions. There are many aspects of the thousands of religions in the world that some may view as different, immoral, or even appalling. The fact is though, that while it is different than what many of us are used to, or have been raised to believe in, it does exist. One of the great freedoms of this nation is the Freedom of Religion. We can't become ignorant to the world and believe these aspects do not exist just because they are not the same as in the religions we follow.
The second perspective is the Moral perspective. Refering back to the religious perspective, no one has appointed us judge on how a person must act when following their religious beliefs. That is for their God to decide. Just because it is different, doesn't mean it's wrong. Most of these people have been raised on these beliefs all their lives and a majority of those (of reasonable age) must believe what they are doing is morally OK, or else they would be questioning it. Now before everyone begins cursing me, please continue to the third perspective, which is Legality.
Legality is the third and most important issue at hand here. While it may be legal in some states to have multiple wives, it is NOT LEGAL to have minors under a certain age to be engaged in marriage or any unlawful sexual activities anywhere in the USA! This is what everyone needs to focus on. Not power issues, abusing power, religious contradictions, moral beliefs, etc. It is the possibility that there are crimes being committed here! If anyone is being held against their will, it is a crime! If anyone is being forced into sexual activities, it is a crime! If anyone is being forced to either marry a minor, or for a minor being forced into marriage, it is a crime! This is what the investigators are looking into, and rightfully so. If their investigations are unfounded, the people who were displaced will go right back to where they were, and probably will be stronger for it. BUT if there is any evidence of any wrongdoing, then the authorities have justified their investigations.

Please refrain from badgering the authorities, or referring it to a Nazi type of action, the men and women of the police (both local and federal) place their lives on the line everyday. They deserve much more than being compared to a Nazi action, or assuming they are abusing their power. I know if I had a daughter or little sister, and there was ANY report of this type of behavior at her school, afterschool activities, her coaches, her religious studies class, ANYWHERE, I definitely would want the authorities to investigate.
If there are those who believe that the government or its agencies are abusive in its power, or believe that their constitutional rights are being violated every day, well then move to a different country and see how good we really have it!  

If there is one 16-yr. old who claims abuse, then there are probably dozens more.  The women and children on this compound were not allowed to leave.  Just ask the people of Jonestown if they would have welcomed earlier government intervention -- oops, sorry there aren't any people of Jonestown anymore -- the government arrived too late.  

I urge anyone who is not fully educated on the horrors of the polygamous lifestyle of the FLDS and the abuse that is ongoing in this culture to read the book ESCAPE by Carolyn Jessop.  You will not be able to put it down.  It is a very well written book by someone who lived this lifestyle her whole life.  This will put to rest any thoughts that the government has "gone overboard" in this case by trying to rescue these women and children.

If there is one 16-yr. old who has been abused, then there are probably dozens more.

The government has the obligation to protect all citizens regardless of their religious beliefs.

Just ask the people of Jonestown if they would have welcomed earlier government intervention. Opps, sorry there aren't any residents of Jonestown anymore -- the government arrived too late.

I grew up in So. Utah about 50 miles north of the Colorado City location where these people came from.  I've seen first hand many pregnant polygamist girls 15 years old and younger.  Most people in Utah (including Police, Governors, and Attorney Generals etc.)have known of these horrible practices (men marrying off girls as young as 13 to older men).  The excuse for allowing it has always been we'll lose any criminal cases brought up because of "freedom of religion".  How about the freedom of those young girls?  They don't truly have any freedom, especially not freedom of religion.  I'm glad to finally see statutory rape being called what it is and prosecuted as such.  However, I feel sorry for the trauma that these women and children must be going through right now.  But, hopefully this move by the authorities will embolden and enable the one's who want to get out.

Gary of Bull(is it 'head'?)City, AZ
I can't help but notice you live less than 250 miles from Colorado City, AZ and even closer to Hilldale UT the other primary sites of this perversion of the Mormon Faith. Hmmmmm  Well let me illuminate what seems to be your ill-voiced but adamant missive.  
1) This 'going into' a religious compound was well stated by Scott, Denver. It is called probable cause.
2) The 'rounding up', uproot(ing), transport(ing) and 'interment camp' comments were equally absurd.  What were the rescuers and police to do? Unlock the gates and say 'find your own way from here we have done our part'?
3)Your 'heartfelt' concern for how much this rescue would scare and traumatize the kids is proved a massive hypocracy, ironically, by your failure to even acknowledge the daily trauma and terror they were made to live.
4) As to your Nazi reference this (almost) amazes me the most. The police, Child Protective Services, Courts, any other law enforcement agency involved, volunteers, the physical and monetary rescources and sheer effort spent on this rescue has not even the slightest similarity to Nazi activity. My dad fought those bad guys and talked about what he saw.  These men and women were the guys in the white hats, the good guys. They should all be given medals.
I could continue, but your ignorance seems boundless so I shall end only with one last comment.
When, if ever, you wrap your small mind around the concepts above, locate a real Morman believer and ask them what they think.

FDLS, "sect of Later Day pedophile old men" Free the women & throw the dirty old men in jail. Joesph Smith made all that stuff up so he could have sex with underage girls. His wife didn't even buy it!

After reading Carolyn Jessup's book, "Escape" - this news feels all too real.  Her book gave you a front seat in her life under Jeffs command.  After reading her book, my husband and I have been mortified at how these women and children have been treated.  Ms. Jessup was fortunate that she was allowed an education - otherwise I don't know that she would have been able to do what she did for her freedom and her family.  Several times, my heart broke for this woman and I had to stop and pray for her.  I pray her and others like her, would learn about a true loving Heavenly Father.  Sadly, they have never been truly loved and have been brainwashed by evil people. Our heart goes out to them: for the horror they are in now and the overcoming they will need to do to find out who they are and the freedom they have.  May God Bless them.  

There is no excuse for 50+ year old men being with young teenage girls. However, being from Texas, I can assure you that when a teenage girl at the local Baptist Church is being abused the local authorities will NOT arrest all the men and women at the local mega-church and then transport off all the children to "save" them from abuse. The reality is these are just nazi methods cloaked in the purity of fundamental christian righteousness. Let's round up all the Jews next! Hurray for Jesus!! You know, there was a time in the United States when you were presumed innocent until proven guilty. Of course, that is only for white christians I suppose.

2 Timothy 3

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Everybody needs to keep the religious aspect out of this. I really do not think the LDS Community supports these people, I am not LDS, nor do the people of my community (Saint George, UT.) These people are very misguided in thier beliefs.  I see them on a daily basis and althought they are friendly in Saint George, UT if you were to travel to to thier community they will spit in your face.  I am a contractor and it makes me ill to see these people, who do not pay thier share of taxes, obtain work from those who are more qualified. The real victims are the children.  They no nothing of the outside world.  One way to stop this is not to hire them, and do not allow them to shop in your stores or eat in your restaurants.  They are child abusers.  I hope that the Arizona Government will do the same in Colorado City.  I will be grateful to help in removing the women and children myself.

jesus christ is the only one who saves!!!

3000 years ago, how old were their marriages?

how old was the "virgin" mary when she had Jesus?
how many abuses go un-cared for in usa? yet if it has to do with a "organized faith" surely bring in the guns, and weapons, kill if necessary?!?!?!
that is backwards!
right or wrong......
there certainly is a organized ring leader trying to kill , steal , and destroy anything to do with FAITH!

JESUS SAVES>>>>>>JESUS SAVES>>>>>>>JESUS SAVES!!!!!

These men are sick pediphiles, and they're using religion as a shield so they can break the law and rape young girls.  However, I'm not surprised one bit give the range of sick, sadistic behavior that "religion" comes in handy for masking.  Religion has never been anything other than a tool used to control and subjugate weaker people.

Brian of Tuscon has it right on the money when he says, "The children, esp. the girls, in this 'religion' have been manipulated and dominated to the point that they have no understanding of free will or the opportunity to intelligently decide for themselves if this is the life that they wish to lead."  Well that pretty much sums up all religious teachings, all religious doctrines and the poor, unfortunate children who are raised to blindly follow a fairy tale without being given a chance to form their own beliefs.  God is a fairy tale and this situation is just a far extreme example of how religion poisons society, no matter what form it's in.

Steve in Beavercreek, get your facts straight.  The FLDS didn't exist until the 1940s, when the LDS church excommunicated the entire membership of the Short Creek, Arizona branch of the LDS CHURCH.  Hardly over 100 years ago.  

Personally, I don't care one way or the other about polygamy: if consenting ADULTS are involved, it is none of my business who marries who, or who has sex with who, or why, or when.
But that's the problem, isn't it? It is NOT just adults; many of these "wives" have been married off below the legal age of consent, and more than a few have been married off to close male relatives.
I do agree that the men involved here are pedophiles. It would be simple to wait until the girls are 18 before marrying them, so obviously puriant sexual lusts after under-aged girls is at work here, the religious beliefs of the perpetrators notwithstanding.
I do however believe that taking children en masse and placing them in state custody is a mistake. This action will traumatize the children, and further isolate them and the adult cult members, which is detrimental to them, and to the rest of society, especially since these people are  religious fundamentalists who already believe that the world is on the brink of ending, and are therefore more prone to violent resistance to authority. Also, I am reminded that state authorities in Utah and Arizona have done this before to the children of polygamists, and the results were not good for the children.
Finally, this was obviously a very, very carefully planned operation, worked out a considerable time ago. The Texas authorites have been waiting a very long time to attack this cult, and this smacks of religious persecution. Not that I think these cult members are in the right - considering the indoctrination of the women and children that takes place, and the breaking of laws, and the pedophilia and incest taking place they are definitely NOT in the right - however these kinds of tactics on the part of police must concern all of us. If the police can do this to these cult members, they can do it to ANY church, given the right excuse.

Read Annie's comments.  While she does not say anything about from where she came, or to where she is in life at this time, there is truthfulness and an awareness of a situation(s) similar to Texas in her words.  Annie may know much more about improprieties/realities within this sect than others in this thread.  Annie, I wish you well.

As to what happens to the young men, Annie Booth commented on this earlier.  The young men, just teenagers really, are sent away from the compound; the older men don't want anything taking the attention of their young brides.  The elders may use the excuse that the young men aren't strong willed enough, but they really need to have a low male population in the compound so there will be a larger pool of unattached young girls to choose from.  I saw this on Anderson Cooper 360.

I say hoo-ray for Texas.  Utah and Arizona authorities, for whatever reason, were unable or unwilling to prosecute these lawbreakers and sex offenders.  Finally, during the last couple of years, an aggressive attorney general was able to prosecute and get convictions of several of the most notorious men from this group, including their leader, Warren Jeffs, who is currently serving two consecutive five years to life sentences.  I lived in southern Utah for 21 years and traveled many times past their enclaves of Colorado City, AR and Hilldale, UT.  I had a few dealings with them and generally found them to be hard  and capable workers but it was well known that they took advantage of the food stamp and other welfare programs.  They were extreemly reclusive people and did not seem to want any "outsiders" visiting their community.  I always felt very sorry for the children, very few of whom recieved any education past 12 or 14 years of age.  The girls were married by 16, generally to older men, and naturally there was an excess of young men who were systematically excommunicated and driven from the group.  

If you all want to know the real story behind this - read the book, ESCAPE, written by Carolyn Jessop last year.  She was apparently married and had 8 kids with a very high ranking man in the Fundamentalist LDS organization and finally escaped a few years ago. This will open your eyes to a life in the U.S. that you would believe only exists in radical fundamentalist middle eastern countries - not here in the U.S.  If you read the book (which you simply can't put down) you will be thankful that the police made a raid in Texas and got the women and children out.  

After reading Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith," I can't even believe this freaky LDS fundamentalism still goes on in modern U.S. society. Sneaky sneaky. Sooo glad they were raided.

It is really hard for me to understand how any person,
male or female, young or old, could enter into a lifestyle that condones pedophiles. To do this in the name of God is all the more reprehensible. They are going to have a hard time explaining their actions to
a Jury of normal people. How can they justify their actions when they come face to face with Jesus?

It really irritates me when people say that this Fundamentalists are the same as the LDS church. I've been a member since May of 1972 and have yet to participate in a polygamous marriage. I don't plan to. It's against the law of the land and more importantly the laws of God. I noticed that photographs of the Texas compound were linked with photos from LDS stories. Saying we are like the Fundamentalists is saying the Catholics are the same as the Pentecostals. I hope in the future true professional journalists communicate the news properly.

All of you who are responding to Gary from Bullhead City, AZ: Please note, he signs himself as being from BULLHEAD CITY, AZ! Very likely he's part of the FLDS. They have been trafficing in underaged girsl for a long time up in Colorady City (AZ) and that area.

Thank God authorities had probable cause to go into that compound and rescue the women and children from life of sexual abuse. That 16year old did a very brave thing and saved the lives of many little children.  Hopefully they will heal from whatever they were subjected to.

I agree with Tari...sounds like a bunch of dirty old men hiding behind religion to have their way with children.  Creepy...happens in other religions too.  Look at the lawsuit payoffs occurring in the Catholic Church.

Thank God authorities had probable cause to go into that compound and rescue the women and children from life of sexual abuse. That 16year old did a very brave thing and saved the lives of many little children.  Hopefully they will heal from whatever they were subjected to.

I agree with Tari...sounds like a bunch of dirty old men hiding behind religion to have their way with children.  Creepy...happens in other religions too.  Look at the lawsuit payoffs occurring in the Catholic Church.

Do you really think the federal goverment has the authority to go in there and uproot all the women  happingand children on privite property,based on 1 phone call?.Dont get me wrong I dont agree in the slightest bit with what is happing,but what I do know for a fact is that our rights and civil liberties are almost gone entirely.

Hi Tari, the young men are run out of town, exactly like all wild animals do to their "unwanted studs."

I HOPE THIS SENDS A MESSAGE TO ALL THOSE THAT PRACTICE THIS SICK RELIGION THAT AMERICA WOULD NOT STAND FOR THIS BEHAVIOR AND THAT WE DO CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR CHILDREN, AND THEY WILL BE PROTECTED. THIS HAS BEEN A VICTORY DAY FOR ALL ABUSE CHILDREN THAT DONT HAVE A VOICE

Unless there is abuse by the mothers also, these children should be allowed to stay in the care of their own mother's and all permitted time and training to adjust to "modern" life.  I agree that the older men acted in a vile way and should suffer the consequences.  The poor children know nothing about the outside world and it would be a shock to them to be forced to live that way all of the sudden.  Not to mention they have probably never had processed food.  I can just imagine how hard it will be on their stomachs.

Great Book on this topic "Under the Banner of Heaven" by John Krakauer. It explores the history of the Morman church from a secular point of view and discusses the generational deteriorment caused by this sort of lifestyle. Rarely are the girls ever educated beyond basic reading ability, and they are to submit to their husband as his desires command. Straight bullshit. There is virtue to organized religion, even mormanism, but when we discuss the fundamentalists of any organized religion, we are looking at the fringe society. These people are fanatical by defination. In the case of the church of Latter Day Saints it is very unfortunate that the fringe groups that believe in polygamy victimize young girls. Lastly, the first comment by Gary clearly shows he has little sympathy for the girls that were legimatly rescued in this situation. He may as well be an acomplis. I believe police officials will continue to make discoveries of this nature until the FLDS church is uprooted from American soil.

In the name of religion.  Interesting.  That is an excuse for one human to treat any other human as they wish.  In this case male dominance.  Simple as that.  God created one man and one woman.  Not one man and many women.  And they were created age appropriate.  God loves all, but does not lust all.  Please wake up and stop using religion as an excuse to kill or control.  There is one judge and one judge only, he will prevail.  But right is right and wrong is wrong.  God gave each of us free will and it was not to be taken by others.  AND We are to protect our children! Witch hunt?  No it is simple as Good vs Evil.

Let ME get this straight....
Because an anonymous MALE reported being the victim of sexual abuse from a Catholic Priest it was OK for law enforcement and the government to investigate and prosecute the guilty - BUT - when a 16 year anonymous FEMALE reports sexual abuse from a Religious Leader and it is investigated you, Gary, term it religious persecution?!?  And reference these actions to those of the NAZIS?!?  I served in WWII and if you decide you would like a history lesson I would be more than happy to detail my experience in the European campaign.

Religion can be a wonderful thing but so many times we have seen horrible things happen in the name of religion.  So many of the fundamental religions have no room for the rights of women and children, whether it be the LDS church or a fundamental Baptist church or a fundament Islamic religion.  It's a scary thing when you are taught that you must do things in order to please God.  It seems that the Bible teaches that in order to please God you are to love one another as you love Him.  These poor women lost their right to a happy, healthy life due to a misguided belief of what was right in God's eyes.  What a shame.  I hope and pray that these women and their children can somehow become happy, whole individuals.  

As for the young boys...most of them are cast out when they hit puperty because they are a threat to the old men.  They are called "the lost boys" and they have no family, no jobs and no education.  What happens to them in our society is awful as well.  It is sad that all of these women and children have been so traumatized these last few days, but with help, they will be better off than being abused, brain washed and raped.  Hopefully, there will be true, loving Mormon families that will take them in and ease their transition into mainstream society.  My thoughts and prayers are with them all.

I am very proud of the young wife and mother who reported her forced marriage to CPS.  The FCJCLS is more than a church, it is a cult in which a few opportunistic men have used religion as a vehicle to dominate and abuse women and children.  I hope these perpetrators of rape and incest come to justice, and the women, children, and young men of the group can be rehabilitated to lead normal, self-determining lives.  May they all go with God the merciful.  

Texas law allows for the death penalty, use it. At no time should sexual abuse of children be allowed in this country. I am shocked that anyone would hestitate to investigate such claims. Thank God law enforcement took the call seriously and put an end to these unimaginable acts.

Honestly, these kind of people disgust me.  State tolerance of religious beliefs are one thing, but keeping people in complete isolation from everything and everyone is both a moral and a constitututional violation.

The fact that these same "religious leaders" forced themselves and others on people not so much younger than myself is real cause for alarm.

I only hope that the people responsible for ruining so many peoples lives will have a nice, lengthy, and very uncomfortable stay in prison, followed by a much, much longer one in whatever (bad) afterlife may exist.

Freedom of religion is one thing; religious extremism is just an excuse for insanity.

It should be an embarrassment to MSNBC and to every law-abiding American that the first comment published here is from a certain extremist like Gary of Bullhead City, AZ. I concur with Scott of Denver - Gary's comments make him appear a confederate of these evil men. Further, his comments should make him a candidate for scrutiny.

According to some news coverage at the time of Jeffs capture, the boys are often run out.  They are throw-aways, usually without an education, relying on whatever skills they learned working the land or building things.  So the boys are victims too.
This cult is a sorry excuse for a religion.  They are truly criminals and deserve prison time.

Annie Booth.  Please spread your observations and knowledge of this situation to the end of the Earth.  I see what you're saying.

 Gee, can anyone remember the Short Creek Raids?
 I do not in any way, shape or form, condone abuse of any form - specifically in that I mean the forcing someone to bend to your will through coercion, whether physical or emotional. That being said, you should really take a step back and look at this with some intellectual honesty.
 It's real easy to say "them" and "those people" and lump all the group together as if they were all of the same mind. Gary from Bullhead City was right on. He wasn't advocating abuse nor polygamy, either. This clearly smacks of prejudice. Prejudice is the first step to oppression and subjugating a people.
 There are obviously crimes of the land being committed here, but each of those should be investigated as they arise. Going into a whole community and pulling this kind of stunt is just plain fascism (look up the definition).
 Take their religion out of the mix, and use a different group - say tenements in Chicago - we all "know" there is rampant crime, drug use, abuse, etc. happening there. What do you think the political outcome of that would be?
 BTW, the latest number is 534, with 401 children. Do you really mean to suggest that everyone of those is a victim of abuse? 133 adult women are all unable to make a choice for themselves? Get real. After the Short Creek Raid, did all the women leave? No - while I'm sure there are abuses galore, the majority of the wives rchose to return, and the community still continued to exist. There
 The only crime here was that they are separatists. In the US today, that is the most serious crime there is. We can't allow anyone to be different and avoid the public. We fear them so.
 Look how many people are convinced these people will fight back - even though they have never done so. Instead we keep trotting out Ms Jessop to voice her opinion (she seems to be the only disenfranchised member willing to speak) about how they have guns and are all evil.
 While I can't condone the FLDS actions and practices, all Americans should be watching with concern at the actions here. Tonorrow it could be your group that is not popular anymore.
 

It's just another indication of the FLDS lack of reality that they relocated to Baptist/Church of Christ country. What could they possibly expect?  
My Great-Grandmother was a product of the polygamous lifestyle, when it was still sanctioned by the Mormon Church.  She had an abiding hatred for the life, and a fear of the church which lasted throughout her lifetime.  This abuse of women and children needs to be stopped...whatever it takes.  

I am skeptical. Is this another Waco. As most reasonable people now awknowledge, the death of the many children at Waco could have been avoided if the authorities had been more honest, upright and forthright and less arrogant in their dealings.

A different lifestyle does not necessarily mean abuse; neither, does the exception regarding abusive conduct necessarily mean the entire community is abusive.

However, like Waco, the authorities have committed themselves, so I am sure they will manufacture sufficient evidence to justify taking all 400 plus children. Normally, law enforcement will only take the alleged abused victims, if and only if, sufficient, probable or reasonable cause grounded in provable facts exists, not a set of allegations, based on media hype and an annoymous telephone call (I am sure they will eventually produce someone) and the authorities are now under pressure to produce evidence among the children. Reminds me of a Bakersfield, California case involving a day care center.

The Judicial system should be very very cautions in this circumstances, because you may have well-meaning, but liberal feminists social workers at Child Protection Services experiencing a profound clash of values with a some what odd, ultra conservative polygamist group from another era.

This very well be a war of ideology, rather, than solid and consistent abuse of over 400 children, unless, as an liberal feminist social worker, the mere fact, that children are growing up in a 18 th century polygamist environment infers abuse. However, under the law, more is required. A life style or religion should not be placed on trial. What if liberal feminist social workers children were rounded up and the liberal ideaology was placed on trial? Would we have the same enthusiasim? Remember, Waco, the Bakersfield Day Care Center and Salem Witch trials, before rushing head long into the frey because a unique, isolated and strange life style rooted in another century is at the center of the storm.

The Judicial System should set aside prejudice and examine the true facts. If any abuse is found; the abuser should be punished not an entire community and not mothers separated from children and sibliings separated from each other. And, absolutely no social engineering upon the part of the liberal ideologues working on behalf of the government.

Now, if no massive abuse is found, leave the children and mothers alone. Is there abundant drug use? Is there extreme violence? What about gangland violence? What about gangs? What about teen sucide?
The above are all symbolic and symptomatic of the larger society. Does this small polygamist society have such aliments?

The question of right and wrong is a religious and philosophical question and not the place for law enforcement or Government such as what happened at Waco.

If massive abuse of all 400 children is trully found and rooted in the evidence, than such action is merited, but this smells of Fraud by local authorities.

Moreover, if these children have been taken into custody, wrongfully, under manufactured evidence or without evidence, the criminal acts of the specific government employees should be rooted out (just like Jeff's and Korash); these falsfying individuals should lose their jobs and be criminally prosecuted.

The law should work not only too protect the children from any abuse by their families and religion, but also, protect the children from abusive persons in government, whom decided to manufacture and falsfy evidence, in order, to shut down an opposing life style, such as liberal feminism social workers vs. conservative 18 th century polygamy religious groups.

Both ideologies; both doctrines should be equally accountable for wrongdoing.

Think well and act slowly.

to gary in bullhead city.  your daughter comes home crying and says daddy an old man raped me. the first thought in your mind should be lets go to the hospital then to police because you want the sob to pay for the hurt he caused your daughter.  then your daughter says daddy im pregnant with the rapist child.  so now do you not think the sob should pay? do you not want justice done and the dirty old man punished to fullest extent of the law?  if not, then you're just as black hearted and un-human as the rapist.  GOD does not promote rape of his own children

Take a look at the world we live in - all the crime, drugs, underaged sex, kids killing kids, adults killing kids, and look at the total lack of crime in the FLDS community.  

Caught your attention didn't I...

They have lived this way happily for generations, and it is the values and morals of outsiders that deem them deviant. It is only when their children see the evil of the outside world and its temptations do they begin to think their way of life is wrong.

I do not endorse or commend the FLDS church, however, I believe they have a right to practice their religion without state, federal, or local interference.

As I understand it the young boys are considered competetion for the young girls ans as such are often forced to leave (after being taught for all of their lives the outside world is evil)..They are called the Lost Boys.. they are victims too  Imagine, as a parent your child will either be a child bride or forced away from home as ayoung teenager...so sad....

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