Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by Pebcake

Very original. I give up.

Best news I've heard all day.

Just found out, my cousin went to high school with the judge. Aunt in San Angelo said many residents have taken attorneys into their homes because all of the hotels are full with the media

[jon1856]

After that little detour/side trip-Back to the News "facts of the day":
Texas begins DNA tests on polygamist sect children

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - State authorities on Monday began running DNA tests on over 400 children removed from a polygamist compound in west Texas to determine if some were born to underage mothers.
Such evidence could be key in an investigation of possible abuse at the secretive compound linked to a break-away Mormon sect run by followers of jailed polygamist Warren Jeffs.
"It is a cheek swab and it is very non-invasive," said Patrick Crimmins of the Texas Department of Children and Family Services of the tests.
A judge on Friday ordered the tests to determine parentage and relationships within the community. Meanwhile, the children must remain in the department's custody.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domes...e=domesticNews

SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) -- Lab workers began taking DNA samples Monday from the more than 400 children in state custody since a raid on a polygamist compound more than two weeks ago.
Officials hope the samples, to be taken by cheek swabs from the children and their parents, will help sort out the confusing family relationships in a convoluted custody case that has strained the resources of the child welfare system and the courts.
The testing is being conducted in the San Angelo Coliseum, where most of the children have been held since last week.
Judge Barbara Walther ordered the tests at the request of state officials, who have complained that members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have continually changed their names, possibly lied about their ages and sometimes had difficulty naming their relatives.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/21/....ap/index.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351921,00.html

Polygamous sect unleashes PR campaign

Previously silent group mobilizes after state removes 416 children
SAN ANGELO, Texas - Before authorities raided their west Texas retreat, members of a secretive polygamous church spent decades holding as tightly to their intense privacy as the Scriptures guiding their way of life.
Contact with outsiders was limited. Media inquiries were rejected with either stone-faced silence or a polite "no comment."
But after Texas officials removed 416 children belonging to members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the sect fired up the public relations machine.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24234987/

Polygamists make their own fashion statement

The puff-sleeved, pastel dresses are a blast from the 19th century
For a society accustomed to the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, the images of the women from the polygamist compound in Texas are almost shocking in their understatement: Ankle-length dresses, makeup-less faces, hauntingly uniform hair.
And while no one would accuse the women of making a fashion statement, the pioneer-style outfits are a rare of example of how in an age of overexposure, modesty, too, can give pause.
The puff-sleeved, pastel dresses worn by the women in the sect are a combination of original 19th-century wear and 1950s clothing that was adopted when the church took a conservative turn, according to Janet Bennion, an anthropologist who studies polygamist women
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24245576/

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by jon1856

Polygamists make their own fashion statement

The puff-sleeved, pastel dresses are a blast from the 19th century
For a society accustomed to the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, the images of the women from the polygamist compound in Texas are almost shocking in their understatement: Ankle-length dresses, makeup-less faces, hauntingly uniform hair.

And while no one would accuse the women of making a fashion statement, the pioneer-style outfits are a rare of example of how in an age of overexposure, modesty, too, can give pause.

The puff-sleeved, pastel dresses worn by the women in the sect are a combination of original 19th-century wear and 1950s clothing that was adopted when the church took a conservative turn, according to Janet Bennion, an anthropologist who studies polygamist women
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24245576/

I thought that was a really cruel article. The quotes by the celebrity stylists were especially insensitive and rude.

[DeltAlum]

The men have finally showed up on the news.

They haven't said anything new that I've heard, but at least they're there.

Another question that I have is that if the hope is to get the children back with their families, why are there three hundred attorneys making objections and slowing the court proceedings down to a crawl?

Let's elect a spokeslawyer.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

The men have finally showed up on the news.

They haven't said anything new that I've heard, but at least they're there.

Another question that I have is that if the hope is to get the children back with their families, why are there three hundred attorneys making objections and slowing the court proceedings down to a crawl?

Let's elect a spokeslawyer.

Texas law requires each child have a lawyer. Yay for pro bono I suppose. But these lawyers have been brought in, they don't know each other and aren't going to necessarily trust one of the others to speak for them. Or perhaps the law prohibits that too.

[AGDee]

The men on the Today show this morning were bizarre. The women did most of the speaking, slowly and deliberately, as if weighing every word. One of the men was asked specifically whether he would thought it was wrong to marry a 14 year old. He stated (again, carefully, deliberately) "I personally would never do such a thing".

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by AGDee

The men on the Today show this morning were bizarre. The women did most of the speaking, slowly and deliberately, as if weighing every word. One of the men was asked specifically whether he would thought it was wrong to marry a 14 year old. He stated (again, carefully, deliberately) "I personally would never do such a thing".

Follow-up should have be "But would you have sex with a 14 year old girl?
And would you want an off-spring from that relationship."
Remember it has been pointed out here and in the news that there is a great deal of local and federal monies going to these groups.

[Educatingblue]

Originally Posted by jon1856

Follow-up should have be "But would you have sex with a 14 year old girl?

We already know the answer to that question! Of course the men in the community are going to lay low (in the media) because they are the ones who get to have their cake and eat it too! I was watching the Today show the other morning and they were talking about the number of 13-yr-old pregnant mothers...

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Texas law requires each child have a lawyer.

I'm sure that makes sense on the face of it. But if they all go their own direction, this case could last a very long time.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I'm sure that makes sense on the face of it. But if they all go their own direction, this case could last a very long time.

I'm sure the laws weren't written with the possibility of 400 children at a time.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I'm sure that makes sense on the face of it. But if they all go their own direction, this case could last a very long time.

I think that would be okay in the long run. I would hate to have it drag out for the children and the surviviors of this night mare, but if it means that these rapists (because that's what they are, i don't like euphemisms) have to stand trial for each one to dig to get to know what was going on then I am for having it take a long time.

I actually feel that the "men" in this compound should be rounded and "dealt with."

[Tom Earp]

I still have the itch in the back of my mind about this so call unknown girl was that called and has never been found?

This reminds me of a bit of Waco, Texas when the Feds moved in and look what happened there.

Whether this group was wrong or right, why did the Feds swoop in?

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

The men have finally showed up on the news.

They haven't said anything new that I've heard, but at least they're there.

Another question that I have is that if the hope is to get the children back with their families, why are there three hundred attorneys making objections and slowing the court proceedings down to a crawl?

Let's elect a spokeslawyer.

Okay, the highlighted part is what's bothering me: how do they define family? The mother and children? The mother and children, with paternal visitation? What about all of the half and step siblings?

They're going to have to completely re-define the concept of family to solve this hot mess.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Okay, the highlighted part is what's bothering me: how do they define family? The mother and children? The mother and children, with paternal visitation? What about all of the half and step siblings?

They're going to have to completely re-define the concept of family to solve this hot mess.

If any of those children are placed back with their families, it will be a complete miscariage of justice.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Okay, the highlighted part is what's bothering me: how do they define family? The mother and children? The mother and children, with paternal visitation? What about all of the half and step siblings?

They're going to have to completely re-define the concept of family to solve this hot mess.

Yep.

I finished Under the Banner of Heaven recently and I feel like I have a little better grasp on the polygamous craziness than I did before. I have no idea how you would figure out how children could be returned to their families and still protect them from abuse or incest.

Maybe they will give the mothers the opportunity to retain custody of their own biological children if they leave the compound and will allow periodic visitation and interviews with the children?