On Wednesday, attorneys for 38 mothers of children taken from the FLDS Ranch in Eldorado, Texas filed an an Amended Petition for Writ of Mandamus (full text) with a Texas state appellate court seeking return of their children. The case is captioned In re Sara Steed, et. al. (TX 3d Ct. App.). The new petition argues that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to return the children to their mothers and in denying them visitation rights.
Today's Ft. Worth Star Telegram says the petition argues that the children should not have been removed from their mothers without evidence the mothers pose an immediate physical danger to the children. It alleges that mere fear of a dangerous culture or mindset is insufficient to justify removal. Yesterday's Deseret News reports the petition suggests that the mothers and children could be ordered to live together off the FLDS compound while the state is investigating. Since the FLDS men are the alleged abusers, they could be ordered off the YFZ Ranch or protective orders barring the men from contact with the women and children could be issued. (See prior related posting.)
Friday, May 02, 2008
New Appeal Filed By FLDS Mothers In Attempt To Regain Custody of Children
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Never did I think I'd agree with the Liberty Legal Institute. I hereby retract what I said about the proper way to annoint Jerry Falwell's grave.
Are you sure this institute is Falwell's? Liberty is a rather generic title.
However, I think their opinion is right --as children are NOT typically removed from their mothers in cases where the men are accused. Especially nursing mothers.
Granted, however, these mothers are complicit --out of ignorance or blindness of some sort--or even helplessness if they don't know how to leave but would like to.
I was thrilled to feel vindicated by Dr. Phil and Jay Leno the other night when they discussed this on Jay's show. They saw it just as I do --an excuse for old ginks to lust after and procure an endless supply of young girls --and convince the women that this is God's will. It is a system that is sex-focused and unfair to young girls and women whether they realize it or not.
If it is proven true that a great number of children have broken bones from harsh punishment, suffered death because they were ill or disabled, -and if there is evidence of pregnancies and births among the young girls --this way of life must be stopped and the laws of this land upheld. The rights of individuals to not be forced into coercive sexual alliances --to not be seduced into them before the alleged age of "maturity," --to not have a chance for an education and a career choice--these cults don't respect our views of human rights --and just because their disrespect of the law is based on religion, it's still wrong in the good ol' USofA and we need to enforce the law and break up the polygamous cults. It was enforcement of U.S. Law that made the larger Mormon church comply and end polygamy as official church policy.
The more we ignore and mollycoddle them, the bigger the cults will be with all their potential for abuses --and ultimate need for child labor or gov't welfare.
My negative opinion about these parental rights, however, does not extend to those who home-school, teach home arts, and teach girls to desire to be home-makers and moms --and teach kids practical work skills and family responsibility through work--I think those girls should also have choices --but if they want to be wives and mothers without other careers, that's fine. Home-schoolers I know all have excellent domestic skills that can be cottage industries --and they aren't uneducated generally or prohibited by any "cult" to go their own way in adulthood. Most all I know are given a good music education. Likewise with the Amish who give kids a choice in late teens to stay or go and don't force marriages to polygamous old ginks who have the roving eye for the next under-age spouse.
Church state separation does not allow blatant violation of America's view of individual rights and societal morals concerning youth.
Right you are Barb, I'm also unaware of any material association between Liberty Legal and Jerry Falwell. I just mentally link them through shared conservative Christian values - ignorance, bigotry, dominionism, and breathtaking dishonesty.
Well, I don't think I am breathtakingly dishonest--nor ignorant --nor bigoted --and I don't know what you call dominionism --you mean God as Sovereign? I believe that, too.
But I think God gave us reason and common sense --and people on both ends of the spectrum can lack these. There are abuses in the name of religion--terrorism, e.g. and the cults. But not all Christian churches who really believe the Bible and follow it are using their faith to abuse.
I believe the noblest ideals of love, forgiveness, compassion, generosity, freedom and equality --and the greatest hope for life after death because of the Resurrected Christ --are in Christianity.
The problem is that in situations like this, women might not directly be the abusers, but the enable and encourage the abuse. Simply put, not only could the mothers not protect the children, they wouldn't. Thus it's in the children's best interest to be removed from the situation, especially considering that evidence of widespread abuse has already been found.
Just lock up the polygamist men and see how quickly the cult loses its allure.
Of course, it will cost us a lot in the short run--but even more if we ignore this blatant law violation in our country.
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