Why do Texas officials, especially Child Protective Services, seem so intent on punishing the mothers and children of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints ranch in El Dorado?
In fact, the actions of Texas officials against the FDLS community in El Dorado may be a tragedy in the making, at least for the moms and kids concerned.
The officials’ raid and attempt to remove the children away from their mothers has the potential of seriously harming these 416 children for the rest of their lives.
It is becoming increasing apparent that either officials were duped into obtaining a false warrant or obtained a warrant for which they knew there was no reasonable factual basis.
It is also clear the evidence Texas Child Protective Services has so far is slim, to say the least, and even that questionable evidence may have been manufactured.
If there was child abuse, it should be punished – that means the perpetrator and not the mothers and the children. It is the culpable man or men who should be arrested. Nothing at this time suggests wrongdoing to justify mass separation of all the children from their mothers. Otherwise, all that happens is victimizing innocent children. So far, nothing has come to light that shows any grievous misconduct at the El Dorado ranch. In fact, it now turns out that the one alleged perpetrator has been in Colorado all the time.
Yet, CPS convinced the judge that mass genetic testing was necessary and wants to move forward, removing children from their moms. And why does the judge – who rather shamefully referred to the mass proceedings she engineered as a “cattle call” -- need to wait until June for another hearing on the future of the children? There are plenty of retired judges around who could help resolve these cases quickly. All that happens in the meantime is the kids suffer more and more.
One certainly can get the impression the officials may be motivated more by bias against the FLDS people because of their practice of plural marriage and their self-isolation in an enclave. It would not be the first time in American history that majority society has struck out against Mormons or other self-isolating religious groups. Simply because their beliefs and lifestyle are very different, and maybe even incomprehensible to majority society, is no reason to leverage the law against them. Religious freedom is a cardinal tenet of the First Amendment. It may be hard to swallow for many “mainstream” folks, but it is essential to any pluralist democracy. And so is due process.
These children are taught they live on a ranch, insulated from the general community, because the majority society acts arbitrarily and capriciously toward religious minorities. State officials and the judge are reinforcing that view.
Imagine what kind of trauma befalls a young child who is rounded up with everyone else and transported en masse to live in Fort Concho national park and then herded off to the city coliseum – all while the state tries to take them away from their mothers.
This sad situation needs to be resolved – quickly – for the children’s sake. Punish the wrongdoer, if any, but not the children and their mothers. And, if the state has committed a grave error, the officials should apologize and let everyone return to their lives.
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Harrington is director of the Texas Civil Rights Project, a nonprofit foundation, promotes civil rights and economic and racial justice throughout Texas.
Anne Hall
April 21, 2008
Why any one would want to live in Texas is beyond me. The CPS bureaucracy there is constantly involved in some scandal or other, involving rape or death at times, even prior to this horrible situation. And the good citizens of the state seem either unwilling or unable to right things.
The writer of this article is correct, there is no evidence in this case, just jack-booted thugs getting their jollies by terrifying kids and moms and pretending like they're righteous tough guys like on "Law and Order" or something.
Sometimes, I think that the only thing Texans will understand is a more primitive document, the Code of Hamurabi or something along those lines, "an eye for an eye".
So when these allegations are proven unfounded (as they likely will be unless these good bureaucrats find a way to fake the evidence, something I'm sure they'd do readily if given the change) how about an "eye for an eye" solution in which the Judge's grandchildren, and various CPS operatives' children are removed from their homes on nonexistant grounds, forbidden contact with their parents, and exposed to the horrors of the Texas foster care system.
Then let's see if these government morons stick to their heartless positions that what is being done here is not traumatic and abusive to children.
Bartleby
April 22, 2008
This is the most sickening, heartless abuse of power by the State. Give these children back, now! There is no excuse to separate them and put them through this horrendous trauma. Why aren't more people speaking out about this vicious, evil crime of the State and CPS? How can they get away with this evilness? Sign the petition to free the innocent FLDS children.
Ned
April 22, 2008
I find myself at odds with this piece, along with the comments of the other posters.
Certainly errors in how this is being handled have happened, but to even consider leaving these kids in that environment with powerless mothers while the 'men' use them all for sex toys in the name of religion, is 100 times worse than having them taken by the state (what would you do with nearly 500 kids?). Does this situation with the polygamists seem just as disgusting as the behavior of priests and ministers around the country--actually, the world?
There comes a time when 'human rights' need to be usurped by common sense.
Jim
April 22, 2008
Have either the writer or the people who sent in comments above me heard of the term accessory to a crime? By not reporting the abuse and by letting it continue those mothers who supported it are guilty of a crime. All you bleeding heart liberals need to wake up to the reality of the situation.
If the authorities obtained a good faith warrant it doesn't matter if it was triggered by a hoax. They haven't even completed the investigation and already you on the outside want to jump to conclusions.
Ray E. Gilbert III
April 22, 2008
This truly is a sad day for civil rights and the children this whole mess purportedly sought to "save". Shame on Texas CPS and especially the Judge hearing this action. The Judge certianly has the power to correct these wrongs but obviously has another agenda.
We can only hope that the U.S. Constitution is strong enough to ultimately protect the innocent from injustice-soon.
Jim Iholts
April 22, 2008
There is something in this country called the Rule of Law. People have the right to practice their form of religion; till that practice infringes upon the rights of others (remember what happened in Jonestown). It is against the law to practice polygamy in the United States and it is against the law to have sex with a minor, even consensual sex. I have lived in Texas my entire life and I seldom find myself in agreement with state officials. This time, however, I completely support their actions. When these so-called religious people adopt the standard mores of this country then they should be treated like all other law-abiding citizens. Until then they must be treated like the sexual predators society abhors.
Minerva Cheatum
April 22, 2008
The trauma that this children have alreday suffered is unbelievable. It will be with them the rest of their lives. They will never turst anyone completely. They will always fear that the "next" person is trying to take them to an unknown place. I know. I was sent to my parents then grandparents then godparents homes. I never knew where I belonged. And, to be taken from the parents and "hurdled" in with other children without their mother's. It is aweful. Those children will need phychiatric care at one point or another in their lives. If they are away from their father it is wrong, but to take them away from their mother, that is a "crime", in my book.
Norbert Brauner
April 22, 2008
I agree this not the way to handle it, please forward this to all State Legislators for them to to do some thing about it.
JC
April 22, 2008
Would you leave your 13-15 year old daughter in the hands of a 50 year old man that will sexually abuse her? I don't think so. This is a an asinine opinion. You need to get your facts straight. The chilldren are in danger of being sexually molested. If the children were given the choice to go back to their mothers they would because they don't know any better. By the way which child belongs to what mother? That is why they need to do the DNA testing. The children have been brought up to believe that all the mothers are their mothers. If they were returned would they be returned to their correct parents?
freebie bean
April 22, 2008
while not the best way to have handled this, it was about time someone enabled the state to go in and stop the abuse done to both mothers and children. what many have overlooked is the fact that there are (most likely) more than one 16 year old who is now pregnant with her 4th child, and others even younger having given birth at least once. i for one always wondered how long this atrocity against women was going to go on. i only hope they raze the entire place and drop holy water from a crop duster when the place is gone. it is easy to blame the state. just be glad it did not happen in your state as it has before in arizona and utah.
Catherine Rosser
July 22, 2008
The MOTHERS are victims?? No they are NOT. The Mothers have a LOT to answer to, and the children ARE better off away from all these sick, weak, evil adults. The Mothers stand by and watch many, many children get repeatedly molested (don't tell me they don't know what happens) and the metnal and psychological abuse those people inflict is apalling. I ca not beleive the state ever let these kids go back in there it is a massive mistake. Sure, the mothers can have the kids back- IF they go into 'Cult Rehab' and cease all ties with that repulsive religion/cult. THAT should have been the ultimatum. Or better yet, the children get fostered by sane people and try to repair some of the damage done to them.