2008 Woodie Awards
Religious Belief Does Not Excuse Sect's Actions
Greg Pivarnik
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Commentary
The separation of church and state does not apply to religions that advocate sexual abuse and violence towards underage women. The Child Protection Services (CPS) made the correct decision to remove 416 minors from a polygamist compound in Eldorado, Texas earlier this month. Any arguments that attempt to defend the people at the compound, especially the older men, as well as anyone else who advocates returning the children to their parents based on religious rights implied in the First Amendment, seriously misunderstand the role that the government has to protect its citizens from physical harm.
The raids occurred at the Yearning for Zion Ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after a purported phone call to a local family violence shelter from a 16-year-old girl who claimed she had been forced to marry and have sexual relations with an older man in the compound. She also reportedly said that she was several weeks pregnant and seemed distraught and fearful because of her situation. The authorities then raided the compound, removing the children and placing them in the custody of CPS because, according to The The New York Times, there was a "'widespread pattern' of physical and sexual abuse of children at the polygamous sect" and that the children were in danger of future abuse.
This breakaway sect of the Mormon Church does not constitute a religion. It would be inaccurate to call it a cult because all religions at one time or another start out as cults. Though the beliefs of the Mormon Church may sound strange to some, the views of the fundamentalist sect in no way reflect mainstream Mormonism. The sect, with some 10,000 members spread sporadically across the western United States, in compounds similar to the one in Eldorado, broke with the Mormon Church in 1890 because Mormon leaders "repudiated the polygamy prescribed by its founding prophet, Joesph Smith, and excommunicated members practicing plural marriage."
The issue here, however, is not the practice of polygamy, which is common in other parts of the world, but instead is the claim that physical and sexual abuse is somehow sanctified by religious doctrine. This church should not be allowed to hide under the guise of religious freedom. The compound, and the religious teachings, are only a front for a place in which sexual perverts and deviants can take advantage of underage girls, forcing them to marry and perform sexual acts against their will. Many members are sexual offenders and the leader of the compound, Warren Jeffs, was sentenced to to 10 years to life-in-prision last year for making a 14-year-old girl marry her 19-year-old cousin and have sex against her will - essentially being an accomplice to rape. He is also awaiting trial in Arizona on similar counts.
The raids occurred at the Yearning for Zion Ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after a purported phone call to a local family violence shelter from a 16-year-old girl who claimed she had been forced to marry and have sexual relations with an older man in the compound. She also reportedly said that she was several weeks pregnant and seemed distraught and fearful because of her situation. The authorities then raided the compound, removing the children and placing them in the custody of CPS because, according to The The New York Times, there was a "'widespread pattern' of physical and sexual abuse of children at the polygamous sect" and that the children were in danger of future abuse.
This breakaway sect of the Mormon Church does not constitute a religion. It would be inaccurate to call it a cult because all religions at one time or another start out as cults. Though the beliefs of the Mormon Church may sound strange to some, the views of the fundamentalist sect in no way reflect mainstream Mormonism. The sect, with some 10,000 members spread sporadically across the western United States, in compounds similar to the one in Eldorado, broke with the Mormon Church in 1890 because Mormon leaders "repudiated the polygamy prescribed by its founding prophet, Joesph Smith, and excommunicated members practicing plural marriage."
The issue here, however, is not the practice of polygamy, which is common in other parts of the world, but instead is the claim that physical and sexual abuse is somehow sanctified by religious doctrine. This church should not be allowed to hide under the guise of religious freedom. The compound, and the religious teachings, are only a front for a place in which sexual perverts and deviants can take advantage of underage girls, forcing them to marry and perform sexual acts against their will. Many members are sexual offenders and the leader of the compound, Warren Jeffs, was sentenced to to 10 years to life-in-prision last year for making a 14-year-old girl marry her 19-year-old cousin and have sex against her will - essentially being an accomplice to rape. He is also awaiting trial in Arizona on similar counts.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Cody Sperry
posted 4/22/08 @ 12:48 PM EST
Well, let's see.
First, I haven't heard any proof coming out of CPS yet that the sexual abuse actually happened.
Second, the phone call was a hoax and it looks like the person that made the call was a 31 year old woman in Colorado Springs. (Continued…)
JoeC
posted 4/22/08 @ 3:52 PM EST
I think that they were justified in raiding the place based on fashion alone. I mean, what the heck is with the outfits?
Texas is full of crackpots and morons. (Continued…)
Kim O'Brien
posted 4/23/08 @ 12:32 AM EST
First, let me say I am am atheist. I do however recognize the right of others to live their lives as they see fit. So far we have yet to hear of anyone being indicted or arrested for a crime here. (Continued…)
bob
posted 4/23/08 @ 1:25 AM EST
let's see ... a phony call reporting a made up crime... so lets take away 400 children from their mothers, none of whom have been accused of any crime, because others in their community and church may have comitted crimes. (Continued…)
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