CHILDREN OF POLYGAMY

Practicing polygamy is not well accepted in most parts of the United States. This is evident by the deception of FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) as they infiltrated the small town of Eldorado, Texas under the guise of businessmen scouting land for a hunting retreat.

The latest turn of events for the FLDS has not only bruised the reputation they so vigorously portrayed as puritan white, but has also brought other religious sects under scrutiny. Society frowns upon devious acts that shock the conscious, and one must admit that arranging marriages of 12-15 year old girls to 50+ year old men does indeed shock the conscious of even the most liberal of our society.

Throughout the history of our nation we have sought to become more socially connected to the point that it is now possible to reach almost anyone almost anywhere via cell phone or blackberry or any of the other various technology devices available at the local information technology store. Another shock to the conscious is the recluse lifestyle forced upon members of this religious sect. Are they there by choice? Do they want to join the rest of our free nation? Do they believe in the practices of their religion? There are probably as many questions as there are children that have surfaced in the raid on the Eldorado ranch.

When law enforcement invaded the ranch did church cross the proverbial line into the state of Texas? I don’t know. Sometimes I think yes and then I fall to the other side of the fence and think NO, NO they did not! No one should be held there against their will! No one should be forced into an arranged marriage! No one should be sequestered from the outside world, and surely no one should be forced into parenthood at an early age.

Then I remember, this is what I think---what do they think, has anyone asked? While the practice of polygamy may be illegal, does law enforcement and ultimately the courts of the United States have an inherent right to tell one group how to practice their religion when the rest of the free world exercises their freedom of religion?

Well, I’ll keep thinking---

Abbey, A. Acquaintance Rape and Alcohol Consumption on      College Campuses: How Are They Linked? Journal of      American College Health, 1991.

Berkowitz, A. College Men as Perpetrators of Acquaintance      Rape and Sexual Assault: A Review of Recent Research.      Journal of American College Health, 1992.

UTPD: Rape and Alcohol. University of Texas Student      Health Center.      http://www.utexas.edu/admin/utpd/rape.alcohol.html

              - Melissa Harrell, MSCJ, BSCJ

Click here to contact me.