[Herra Tohtori]

Sooo... yeah. A fundamental polygamist sect of mormons (or rather, an independent splinter group - elaborated for great justice) has been running a little world of their own for several years. Basically these people are born into the cult, raised in the cult with minimal outside influences, a number of boys are dumped away to keep the male-female ratio suitable for the men considering the polygamy, and forcing 13-year-olds to marry and have kids with the men of the colony. Thus far the authorities have taken over 400 children into custody and 133 women who left the ranch from their free will.

Texas authorities investigating allegations of abuse and the forced marriage of young teenagers to much older men have taken more than 400 children into custody from a remote ranch owned by a polygamist religious sect, authorities said Monday.

The children were joined by 133 women, in homemade ankle-length dresses, who departed voluntarily. While investigators questioned them, state police detained the men who live at the Yearning for Zion Ranch, which is affiliated with sect leader Warren Jeffs. He was convicted last year of being an accessory to the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

The court-ordered sweep of the 1,700-acre property near Eldorado, Tex., nearly 200 miles northwest of San Antonio, continued into the night Monday, four days into a raid described as the largest single child-welfare operation in state history.

"We didn't know there would be this many children, and we don't know how many more there are," Marleigh Meisner, a Child Protective Services spokeswoman, told the Dallas Morning News.

Neverland has been surpassed.

[Windrunner]

Just another idiotic fundementalist/apocalypse cult. I feel sorry for the young women there.

Every cult where women are not treated as equal as men should be banned from existing.

[karajorma]

Am I the only one who on reading the title wondered if they found a stash of powerthirst?


Seriously though you do have to wonder how many of these wacky cults there are in the US. You hear about one every couple of years but you do have to wonder how many of them keep their heads down sufficiently to not be noticed.

[Rictor]

Damnit, I'm going to found a polygamous cult! And then I'll be able to say that groping teenage girls is totally God's word, and the state had better not oppress me. Sure, I'll still go to jail, but as a pseudo political prisoner rather than just your average pervert.

If only Jim Jones had written a how-to book, it would save a lot of time..

[Turambar]

*touches his christmas-light covered portrait of Gaius Baltar*

[Herra Tohtori]

Do you feel God's presence?

[Colonol Dekker]

Movementarians for the win.......................


NaNaNANaNANA Leader!!

[Mefustae]

The children were joined by 133 women, in homemade ankle-length dresses, who departed voluntarily.

This is what happens when you skimp on low-protein gruel. Their resistance isn't going to wear down itself!

[Getter Robo G]

What Gaius was really thinking, *Tell God to wait a moment I'm feeling these titties!*
"Oh yeah I feel it", in my pants... 

Now as primarily a player of Paladins, since when does the "laying on hands" equal outright groping?
Next time I'm gonna worship a Love God and coop a feel during blessings!
Thanks to Baltar I have seen the light! 

[Admiral_Stones]

YOU PLAY WoW?

I can not find any words for your shameful existence, and if I would find, I shall better not speak them.

[MP-Ryan]

That particular sect extends through several US states and into at least one Canadian province.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.

[Admiral_Stones]

What, the Blizzard sect?

[Getter Robo G]

YOU PLAY WoW?

I can not find any words for your shameful existence, and if I would find, I shall better not speak them.

Um, no... I've played a Paladin (about 25 years- probably longer then most of you have been alive, figure it out) in the character development sense, not mindless level grinding.

I find it shameful you would jump to a conclusion a CRPG could be primary over face to face across teh table where Body language and tone of voice add tot eh immersion or "Role Playing".

Roll for initiative! 

[Mars]

The really horrible thing is that there have  probably been several generations of children (the girls start at 13) living in this environment where polygamy, pedophilia, and abuse is utterly normal

[Herra Tohtori]

The really horrible thing is that there have  probably been several generations of children (the girls start at 13) living in this environment where polygamy, pedophilia, and abuse is utterly normal

What, you mean Saudi-Arabia?

Patriarchal fundamental religions tend to do that to people, to varying extent.

[Nuclear1]

That's actually the sort of thing that gets either party (usually the female) killed and/or mutilated in Saudi Arabia.

[Sphynx]

To be accurate, it is not correct to call members of the FLDS sect Mormons. They are a splinter group that broke off from the Mormon church over a hundred years ago, I believe. The Mormon church does not have any affiliation with Warren Jeffs and the FLDS, nor do the FLDS and Warren Jeffs have any affiliation with the Mormon Church. The writing guide for the Associated Press states that only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are correctly called Mormons. Other groups that have broken off at various times are not accurately labeled Mormon.

That being said, I have had the opportunity to visit several of these FLDS communities in Utah and Arizona. It was a very sad experience. Most of these people are sincere, if simply by the fact that this is all they have been taught from childhood. The conditions and the heirarchy, though, are stifling. Men who disagreed with the leadership in any way often lost their property, their wives, their children, and sometimes even their lives. Many young boys were simply thrown out and left to try to survive on their own as a part of recent "cleansing" activities.

My greatest concern is for these children placed in foster care. Their transition to life outside the compound will be very rocky, I'm afraid. I'll be eager to hear how things go and my best thoughts and wishes are extended to them.

[redsniper]

To be accurate, it is not correct to call members of the FLDS sect Mormons. They are a splinter group that broke off from the Mormon church over a hundred years ago, I believe. The Mormon church does not have any affiliation with Warren Jeffs and the FLDS, nor do the FLDS and Warren Jeffs have any affiliation with the Mormon Church. The writing guide for the Associated Press states that only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are correctly called Mormons. Other groups that have broken off at various times are not accurately labeled Mormon.

Being a Mormon myself, I'd just like to say thanks for saving me the trouble of pointing this out.

On topic, how much do these kids even know of the outside world? As I understand it, these cult compounds tend to be pretty self-contained. I would think you could be born and live your whole life there without seeing anything outside the grounds amirite?

[MP-Ryan]

On topic, how much do these kids even know of the outside world? As I understand it, these cult compounds tend to be pretty self-contained. I would think you could be born and live your whole life there without seeing anything outside the grounds amirite?

This particular sect does allow their follows out from time to time.  Bountiful, located south of Creston B.C. is an affilifate of the FLDs and it is a fairly common occurrence to see 16-20 year old girls with 2-5 kids in tow in town or at the border.

Unfortunately, the RCMP have had very little luck pushing criminal charges against any of the members in Canada yet, despite years of investigation.  Getting Jeffs was an important step though, and hopefully some of the other leaders will follow right after him.

[Admiral_Stones]

YOU PLAY WoW?

I can not find any words for your shameful existence, and if I would find, I shall better not speak them.

Um, no... I've played a Paladin (about 25 years- probably longer then most of you have been alive, figure it out) in the character development sense, not mindless level grinding.

I find it shameful you would jump to a conclusion a CRPG could be primary over face to face across teh table where Body language and tone of voice add tot eh immersion or "Role Playing".

Roll for initiative! 

Oh, DnD? Good boy *patsgetterrobogonhishead*