Wanna Get Freaky? Just Call It Freedom Of Religion

In Eldorado, TX, the raid of the polygamist compound built by followers of jailed leader Warren Jeffs has resulted in rescuing, at last count, 416 children.

What took so long? What were they waiting on? A phone call… to tell them what they already knew.

Apparently, if you want to molest children without persecution or prosecution, just call yourself a religion. It worked for the Catholics. Not only can you immerse yourself in your favorite creepy sex fetish, you get a tax break!

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints runs Jeffs’ polygamist sect. So if you like little girls, you can just “marry” them. The male ”elders” of the cult kick out all the younger men so there won’t be any lust or ridiculous puppy love getting in the way. Their philosophy is ”if anyone is going to molest my neice, it’s gonna be me.”

The boys who are banished from the cult are known as “The Lost Boys”  http://www.childbrides.org/boys.html)

Separation of church and state is one thing, but for years Texas used this excuse as a reason not to legally pursue this group. Knowing how Texas deals with problems, I am surprised at the protective attitude they had toward a group of child molesters. Respect for religion? Excuse me? What made Texas decide to surround these people and “rescue” them, rather than burning them to the ground? Why were these children worth saving when the ones in Waco were not?

I also find it disturbing that when authorities finally got around to investigating these freaks, they began separating mothers from their children. From the Salt-Lake Tribune:

“The children remain in state-run shelters, but it now appears their moms were separated from the children involuntarily this afternoon and taken back to the FLDS compound. Apparently without proper good-byes for a separation that could be long-term, or even permanent.

For the last week and a half, 416 children and 139 adult women have been at state-run shelters in San Angelo. The women were free to leave but were told that if they did, they couldn’t come back to their children.

Late this afternoon, FLDS spokesman Rod Parker told us all the women and children were put on buses this afternoon, supposedly to go to a new shelter. But the women were taken, instead, back to the FLDS compound and dropped off.

Parker says the separation of the mothers from their children was involuntary.”

 

 

The reasoning authorities give is “this is how we handle abuse cases.” I don’t argue that authorities should question the children, but I hope they will let them return to the loving arms of their mother afterwards. Most likely their mother is only a child herself.

This is uncharted territory, dealing with so many victims, many of whom are completely brainwashed. The members who decided to return to their ranch after the raid are talking to “secular” people (anyone who doesn’t belong to their group) – some for the first time in their life. They are watching as outsiders are entering their home, and their sacred places of worship. For them, this is probably confusing and traumatizing.

Other people decided to leave the ranch. They took their first chance on freedom and I wish them luck.

I can only wonder how it feels for them, waking up in a strange place, suddenly homeless, suddenly questioning everything they’ve been taught. Finally realizing that they actually have rights.

Imagine the relief of a teenage girl as her husband/molester is taken away… and the fear that follows as she wonders what is going to happen to her and her children.

 

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