Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Six months after Texas Child Protective Services (CPS) removed roughly 450 children from the polygamous Yearning for Zion Ranch near Eldorado, Texas, the state agency continues to grapple with the largest child-custody case in American history. By order of the Third District Court of Appeals, and then by the Texas Supreme Court, most of the children have been returned to their mothers -- but one, an alleged child bride of Warren Jeffs, remains in state custody, and CPS has requested the court return others back to protective services.

Clearly, the legal system was never structured to deal with such large numbers of children at one time, or to unravel the convoluted relationships of a polygamous cult such as that at Yearning for Zion, which is reportedly the headquarters of a breakaway Mormon group known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS). Still, the question must be asked: What is an agency, charged with the protection of children, to do when encountering the preponderance of evidence of abuse that was discovered at the YFZ compound? What do you do upon the discovery of "spiritual beds" where plural marriages to underage girls were consummated to older men? What do you make of the finding that 41 children had fractured bones or "historical injuries and fractures"? How do you sort out siblings from children who can't distinguish their birth mothers from their "other" mothers? What do you make of U.S.-born children who don't have the basics of an education? Or of children who have reportedly never seen a crayon?

In the midst of a highly charged process, much was and continues to be said about the violation of parental rights and religious rights. Noticeably absent from such accusations of rights violations, however, are concerns about basic human and civil rights of the children. Absent too is any context, including the dynamics of domestic abuse and of mind control.

As of September 23, ten male members of the FLDS have been indicted on felony charges of child sexual abuse after a grand jury heard more evidence based on documents seized in the raid. The grand jury will meet again in November to hear more as CPS continues to do its job slowly, on a case by case basis.

And back at the ranch, it's cult life as usual for these children, while Washington talks about a federal task force to investigate the numerous polygamous cults that dot the country. But that will be continued only after the elections. There are priorities, and children don't vote.

Comments

[Ivyfree]

"What do you do upon the discovery of "spiritual beds" where plural marriages to underage girls were consummated to older men? "

Ah, just wanted to point out. That's not consummation. That's rape. Why not call it what it is? Because they had some kind of ceremony? The girls aren't given any choice in the matter. They're coerced. It's RAPE.

[Marinera]

Both, while they have different connotations, are correct descriptions- or would be, if the claim that those beds were used for sex was true. But since it isn't the point is moot.

[duaneh1]

The "ritual sex bed", broken bones, children who supposedly didn't know their mothers, that many of the children tested above their level....makes one wonder If Andrea took off to Madagascar in early May only to recently return and learn about indictments without bothering to check up on all the other events that played out since then.

[Marinera]

I should also note that the children were not really in good condition during their time in the shelters. They contracted chickenpox en masse during the first few days due to being in crowded living quarters. They were vaccinated without regard to the children's medical records - some parents said that their children had been vaccinated already. Some parents, after their children were sent home, reported children having trouble sleeping, or forgetting toilet training.

[Marinera]

Some quotes truncated to fit within commenting limit.

//What is an agency, charged with the protection of children, to do when encountering the evidence of abuse that was discovered?//

The "preponderance of evidence" you refer to was the claim that they saw "pregnant teens". Those turned out to be legal adults.

//Noticeably absent from such accusations, however, are concerns about the rights of the children.//

Not true. Read, for example, Richard Wexler's books and blog, which advance the case that children's rights and parents rights are often intertwined. The assumption that CPS actions always result in the protection of the children's rights and welfare is specious.

//What do you do upon the discovery of beds where marriages to underage girls were consummated?//

False. The beds in question were for sick people to use. The claim that marriages were consummated on those beds was based on the oh-so-convincing proof of some hairs found there.

// What do you make of the finding that 41 children had fractured bones or "historical injuries and fractures"?//

What do you make of the doctors who said that was not an abnormal rate of broken bones?

// How do you sort out children who can't distinguish their birth mothers from their "other" mothers?//

By asking the women, or older children.

// What do you make of U.S.-born children who don't have an education? //

What are you talking about? The children of YFZ *were* educated at the expected grade level. CPS had them academically tested.