So, the Texas Supreme Court ruled this week that the police officers in west Texas did not have enough evidence to take over 400 children from a polygamist ranch. All of the children were released and given back to their parents. The officers and Child Protective Services said that they were trying to end child abuse against the girls who were forced to have sex with older men.
I read a month or so ago that many of the children didn't know who their parents were because this "religious" way of living requires that every women be a mother to every child. The men in the ranch said that they were being wrongfully punished because of their religious beliefs. Do they have protection under the First Amendment to carry out polygamist actions?
The United States Supreme court has ruled on this type of case already. They ruled a similar case with Mormon's in West U.S. saying that these actions were not okay. It should be very interesting to see if the U.S. Supreme Court picks up this case. It would bring a whole new ruling to religious actions and child custody laws.
It seems to me that there is something wrong with this. I know we live in a free country but it is sick. There are a few men that sleep with several women and these women are as young as 14-16 years old. This alone should be looked at as violating the law (many religious groups feel they can go around laws because their religious freedoms. This is wrong!!!!). Then, all the women act as mothers to all the children. I don't know the full details of how this religion works but there should be religious boundaries. I am all for religious freedom...but some actions should be regulated. My philosophy is every person has their own beliefs. There are hundreds of different religions and then their are laws. Especially in a country like the U.S. every religion can't be pleased. It comes down to compromising and trying to be fair to the citizen of the United States. The government should be able to regulate religious actions as long as they are not interfering with religious beliefs. This is what it comes down to.
Thought?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
False Action by Police?
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4 comments:
I mean I haven't been to El Dorado or anything, but the news stories have broken down enough evidence that a person with human morals could rightfully make the assumption that those kids WERE in harm. I think their ruling was REALLY disgusting.
i believvee you are so right when you say that the government should be allowed to regulate if it isn't like interfering with the actual religion.
First of all, I don't condone statutory rape and I personally believe that some of the practices of groups are wrong. However, this is still a complicated issue.
"The government should be able to regulate religious actions as long as they are not interfering with religious beliefs."
The problem is that in this case, regulation would interfere with beliefs. These people believe that for religious reasons that the men should take multiple wives and children should be raised communally.
I'm not saying that the ruling was "right", I just wanted to point out that often these issues are very complicated and it is hard to determine a fair ruling.
Aside, no polygamist sect is part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Most of them are fanatics that broke off of Mormonism a long time ago. The LDS excommunicates members found to be practicing polygamy.
Yeah I see what you are saying and I do feel that this is a very complicated issue especially since none of the children were really "harmed" in anyway and what not. However I feel like there needs to be boundaries between what actions religious groups can take. I think the most disturbing thing about this case was the fact that young women between the ages of 14-16 were sleeping with the few men on the ranch.
As far as there being multiple mothers..etc this is a religious thing and I don't think there is much harm. However is there is evidence that this is causing psychological problems to the children then that is where some issues could come in.
Again this case is complicated but I think there are rulings that went wrong in this case. I think the men sleeping with 14-16year olds was enough evidence for the police to step in.
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