German Police Raid Christian Sect; Take Children Into Foster Care

AP reports that police in southern Germany on Friday raided two locations of the so-called "Twelve Tribes", a Christian religious sect, and took 40 children for placement into foster care for fear that they are being abused. The children ranged in age from 1 to 17.  Police seized sticks allegedly used to hit the children. Sect members acknowledge that they believe in spanking children, but denied any wrongdoing.  An investigation has been opened by police into the sect that was founded by a Tennessee high school teacher in the 1970's, and which has had run-ins with authorities in the United States in the past as well.  The group has also had problems with German authorities in the past for violating laws barring homeschooling of their children. The Blaze has a longer report on the raid.