Gary Tuchman
AC360° Correspondent
Warren Jeff's fundamentalist polygamist sect has never been so vulnerable.
A grand jury in Texas has indicted three FLDS members on charges related to accusations of sexual abuse of children through marriage of underage girls to older men.
This follows the indictment of five others last month, including Warren Jeffs himself on new charges, Jeffs is already in prison after being convicted as an accomplice to rape for arranging an underage marriage.
There is no reason to doubt that more members of this church are being investigated.
One might think all this is giving some members second thoughts. But in this church, where the hierarchy is as rigid and strict as old Stalinist regimes, no member in good standing would ever tell an outsider that.
On the contrary, one member I called tells me this "strengthens his faith." It's an attack against their religion, he says.
Justice may be getting served. But it's also increasing a martyr complex among members of this church. And you have to wonder what effect that might have on the men, women and children of this church.
| Annie Kate |
August 22nd, 2008 9:43 am ET I realize that legally the state needs to go after the men having relations with underage girls but I hope before they put most of the FLDS men in jail the government will have some plan for how the women and children the men will leave behind will survive. And that plan shouldn't be just to put them all on welfare and leave them there.... Annie Kate |
|
| Cindy |
August 22nd, 2008 9:50 am ET Gary, I am glad that they are finally doing something to these FLDS members. They should have looked at them, arrested and tried them long ago. Hopefully they all will get convicted and do jail time right along with their saviour Jeffs! Cindy..Ga. |
|
| Sandra |
August 22nd, 2008 12:24 pm ET My concern over the 'martyr' complex is that martyrs tend to spawn 'causes'. I've seen the paranoia that develops when the us vs them card is played too often. The fist grabs tighter and tighter to what it still controls to protect it from whoever the current 'them' is. The adults become more and more secretive and the children less and less connected to not only american society (wether thats 'the real world' may be debatable) but all society even that of their own closed world. It worries me. Jonestown maybe a distant memory. But the signs are not so different. |
|
| Jane |
August 22nd, 2008 1:18 pm ET Do you really think any of these so called fathers support thier children? They are more interested in finding them (girls) thier next homes. Seeing who is highest up in the clan and marrying them off. |
|
| deborah, OH |
August 22nd, 2008 1:26 pm ET Gary, thanks for your post. When do you find the time, especially THIS week?? |
|
| Wendy |
August 22nd, 2008 1:45 pm ET It is about time to get these child abusers. |
|
| Betty Ann , Nacogdoches,TX |
August 22nd, 2008 6:45 pm ET He is a pedifile. Off with his head. . . or something. |
|
| Genevieve M, TX |
August 22nd, 2008 6:55 pm ET I love that picture! It is gratifying knowing that at least one pedophile is off the street. It is also amusing to see how the chain and handcuffs have managed to wipe off any trace of that stupid smirk (he used to have) off his face. |
|
| Missy |
August 22nd, 2008 9:16 pm ET @Cindy – I have to say that your vast and vocal knowledge on every single subject ever posted on this blog is stunning, simply stunning. I bet your ?? and !! get the most workout of any keys on your keyboard, LOL!! |
|
| Jocelyn |
August 23rd, 2008 2:39 pm ET Hey Gary, Just so you know, I for one, am impressed by your reporting. You are a decent hardworking "regular" type who just absolutely does not get enough credit. Thanks for doing what you do..and just keep at it.. They had you in the middle of a tropical storm this week..and you still have managed to find the time to keep these women and their children from fading into obscurity. Kudos... and do try to post more details as you have them. |
|
|
Comments have been closed for this article |
||
A behind the scenes look at “Anderson Cooper 360°” and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper, the AC360° staff and a network of contributors. Insight you can’t find anywhere else.
We search the news each day to show you what’s on our radar and what we’re planning for the show each night.
For more details, read our tips on how to win 360° approval for comments.
Send your instant feedback to Anderson Cooper 360°.
- Real-life effects of reform getting lost in the noise
- Evening Buzz: Buying Health Care Reform Votes
- Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 12/21/09
- U.S. soldiers in Iraq could face courts-martial for getting pregnant
- FAQs about health care reform
- Interactive: Brittany Murphy’s acting career
- Senate health care reform bill
- House health care reform bill
- Interactive: The top 10 Health-Care-Reform Players
- Video: Child custody battle continues
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2005

