Polygamy Case Becoming an Un-American Outrage
May 31st, 2008 at 01:19pm Mark Noonan
This is getting absurd:
Parents’ hopes of quick reunions with more than 400 children removed from a polygamist sect’s ranch were dashed Friday after their attorneys and a judge clashed over proposed restrictions.
A decision by Texas District Judge Barbara Walther means that to regain custody, the 38 mothers whose filed the complaint that led the Texas Supreme Court to reject the state’s massive seizure must personally sign an agreement their attorneys and state child-welfare officials have proposed…
…The high court on Thursday affirmed an appeals court ruling ordering Walther to reverse her decision last month putting all children from the Yearning For Zion Ranch into foster case. The Supreme Court and the appeals court rejected the state’s argument that all the children were in immediate danger from what it said was a cycle of sexual abuse of teenage girls at the ranch…
…Under the deal CPS released, the families won’t be able to leave Texas until Aug. 31 but would be allowed to move back to the ranch. It also calls for parenting classes and visits by CPS to interview children and parents in the child abuse investigation.
Walther wanted to remove the August deadline and provide for psychological evaluations of the children. She also wanted it specified that parents can’t travel more than 60 miles from their residence without 48 hours’ notice. She also wanted CPS to have access to the ranch and the children at all times necessary for any investigation.
The judge has been ordered to reverse her decision. No indictment has been brought. No actual evidence of criminal activity - other than polygamy, which isn’t the fault of the children - has come forth. No one has been convicted…and yet an allegedly American judge wants to treat these mothers as if they were criminals in the custody of their children. Can’t leave the State? Must submit to psychological testing? Must allow CPS people to barge in at all times? Can’t travel more than 60 miles without advance notice? Is this the State of Texas, or the USSR? What the F is going on here?
This must not be allowed to stand - this is judicial tyranny at its worst; this is a threat to all families, everywhere. It is turn this back - and turn this judge out - or at the whim of a judge a family can be destroyed.
Entry Filed under: General Government, Justice System, Religion
14 Comments
1. hermie | May 31st, 2008 at 1:49 pm
The original pretense for the seizure of the children was a phone call from someone claiming to be a minor in the compond, being victimized. It was soon found to be a former member living in Colorado. That should’ve stopped the state’s actions as the ‘tip’ was fake.
Still, parents and children were forced to provide DNA samples, despite the fact that there was NO crime, and there is still no crime.
2. FmrMarine | May 31st, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Mark
Under Bush they were arrested, and cleared in court.
Under Klinton the BD 85 were slaughtered, and burned to death to “protect” the children.
Randy Weavers wife murdered, son murdered, friend and daughter shot.
Elian Gonzalaz taken by a freeking SWAT team from a closet in his family’s house.
Quite a difference!
3. Mark Noonan | May 31st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
FmrMarine,
Good point - but I’m still outraged that this can happen in the United States of America…
4. hermie | May 31st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
The parents haven’t been cleared. They are still under suspicion by the state and the family services bureaucracy. They now must be able to prove their innocence the next time some anonymous caller makes an accusation.
On the other hand, none of the CPS workers, nor the judge, will have to face any disciplinary actions for what they did.
5. Marty13 | May 31st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Though you certainly have a point regarding government overeach, the wedding pictures published this week of the FLDS leader are just plain creepy. The shots of him kissing that lil girl/bride are enough to turn anyone’s stomach.
6. Mark Noonan | May 31st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Marty13,
Stomach churning, however, is not illegal. I’m just a stalwart foe of judicial tyranny - they seem like some pretty kooky people to me, too, but as none of them have ever broken into my house, stolen my property or in any way, shape or form cause me any difficulty, I have nothing particular against them.
7. Richard W. Lambert | May 31st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Mark: This must not be allowed to stand - this is judicial tyranny at its worst
I don’t mean to imply that I agree or disagree — I’m only asking… what would you replace said “judicial tyranny” with?
8. Jeremiah | May 31st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Mark,
I’ve just found out (I don’t know how recent this story is, but you might want to make a thread about it), that a judge in Colorado has made a law where men can go in womens’ restrooms….
The whole United States is going crazy.
People’s going to have to rise up and take their country back…before it’s too late.
9. Jeremiah | May 31st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Supposedly it’s true…I found this link
http://www.dakotavoice.com/2008/05/colorado-implements-restroom-chaos.html
10. Jeremiah | May 31st, 2008 at 9:26 pm
And Mark,
I don’t know who’s putting the obscene advertisements on your site….but I’d like to see that stop……it really makes the site look bad, with kind of trash.
I don’t know how you would do it, but you find some kind of blocking system in that they have to make a decent name for themelves.
Just a suggestion.
11. Mark Noonan | May 31st, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Jeremiah,
Its a long standing problem - I deal with it as best I can.
12. Mark Noonan | May 31st, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Richard,
With this:
The Constitution of the United States.
13. Cavalor Epthith, Esquire, D.S.V.J. | June 1st, 2008 at 5:39 am
10. Jeremiah | May 31st, 2008 at 9:26 pm
For once we agree on something jeremiah. A registration system would be the right way to go and it would be a great tool that Noonan could actually use to ban registered users for offending comments.
14. Amanda | June 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
I totally agree with Mark. We’re afraid of polygamy, and that’s why this case is so messy.
We actually have a show up today about the underlying issue Mark points out: polygamy. Our host goes around and asks people if they think it should be legal or not.
http://www.moblogic.tv/video/2008/06/02/should-polygamy-be-a-felony/
On the blog, we look at a little of the history behind the supreme court decisions that upheld polygamy laws.
http://www.moblogic.tv/blog/2008/06/02/so-a-polygamist-walks-into-a-bar/
Sorry for the plug, but I just couldn’t resist!