In San Angelo, Texas, Judge Barbara Walther signed an order this morning allowing mothers of around 450 FLDS children to take the children back from shelters across the state at which they were being held in state custody. Today's San Angelo Standard-Times reports that the order places substantial restrictions on the parents and children while the Department of Family and Protective Services carries out an investigation of alleged sexual abuse on the YFZ Ranch. The order prohibits the children from leaving the state, requires parents to keep DFPS informed of their address and permits state officials to make unannounced visits any day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The court also granted an emergency stay of its order as to a 16-year old girl who is the daughter of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. A separate arrangement with tighter restrictions is being negotiated in her case.
UPDATE: The full text of Judge Walther's order is now available online. Also today, according to the Standard-Times, FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said that FLDS policy will now be to bar any girl from marrying who is not of the legal consent age in the state where she lives. The group will counsel members against such marriages.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Trial Judge Orders FLDS Children Released, Subject to Restrictions
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2 comments:
Will Judge Walther have the sense to leave this alone now? Doubt it, feels like we're watching some ghoulish version of Brer Rabbit and the Tarbabies.
For the moment it's good to see the children returned, and two Texas courts affirming the preeminence of civil liberty.
CPS got one thing right - the children are being brainwashed with incredibly damaging beliefs. But that goes on in home schools, churches and fake museums across America, the high price of religious freedom.
Tim,
You make it seem like brainwashing only goes on in a limited number of American institutions (mostly having to do with family and religion). Hogwash. Brainwashing goes on all over the place. I've never seen more brainwashing than in public education institutions. For example, the way children are taught (or not taught) history, by whitewashing numerous controversial subjects, is reprehensible. Pluralism is the greatest bulwark we have against brainwashing. When everyone gets to compete in the marketplace of ideas, it keeps us honest.
One last thing, the price of religious freedom is not high: it's necessary for any the existence of individual freedom. If you want to start paying a high price, do away with religious freedom.
Marco
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