Dispatch from the FLDS Hearing: Care for the children
Cheryl Getty, Barclay Palmer and Anna Pycior
CNN
Big decisions today for the 437 children removed from the Texas ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Here's a quick rundown:
How will the children be cared for? Judge Barbara Walther says she wants to care for them as individuals, on a case by case basis. Texas Child Protection Services says that will be possible once DNA tests are in. "I feel a personal responsibility to what happens to every child, and I want to be kept updated about that with the children," Walther said.
Are there really pregnant teenagers? Gary Banks, attorney for Texas Child Protection Services (CPS), reported there are some minors with infants and some who are pregnant, though it's not yet clear how many.
How will they take care of infants? To help address each child’s needs, the children will be handled in three groups. Infants up to a year old will not be separated from their mothers if the mothers are adults. Children who are 1 to 2 years old will be separated from their mothers, but the mothers will have visitation rights. If the children are 2-5 years old, though, they’ll be sent to foster home settings.
How will they care for older children? Those who are 5-18 were already placed in facilities yesterday and will stay in the assigned shelter if it can comply with state regulations that define "long term shelter."
What next for the children? CPS insisted that it wasn't separating more mothers and children today, that those who have been moved were already separated from their mothers, most staying at the coliseum.
Where will they live? CPS says it is working to keep kids as close as possible to parents and allow visitation, so the children most likely will stay in Texas.
The children's health? All the children have received medical exams but not immunizations, which they should be receiving soon. They will see counselors and have at least one or two psychiatric sessions.
The children’s daily lives? The CPS is being careful to allow the children to wear and eat what they’re used to, even things sent from the compound. They’ll most likely be home schooled, too.
How will they coordinate everyone? A phone system in being set up to let the attorneys, parents and children communicate through CPS. And a secure Intranet database will allow attorneys and parents to log on and find updates on their children, whether they're being placed, and where.
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Filed under: Barclay Palmer • FLDS court hearing • FLDS update • Polygamy |
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I FEEL WE SHOULD BE ASKING OURSELVES WHAT KIND OF AUTHORITY ENTERS PEOPLE'S LIVES,BREAKS UP FAMILIES,SEPARATES INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN FROM THEIR MOTHERS WITHOUT PROOF OF WRONGDOING AND IN THE NAME OF CHILD PROTECTION SUBJECTS THEM TO A SYSTEM WHERE THE VERY ABUSES FOR WHICH THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY BEING PROTECTED MAY OCCUR? WHAT KIND OF AUTHORITY DOES THIS? CERTAINLY NOT ONE THAT RECOGNIZES THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE BEING INNOCENT BEFORE PROVEN GUILTY .WE SHOULD ALL BE WARY OF THIS TYPE OF AUTHORITY.ST.PAUL SPEAKS OF IT IN EPHESIANS 6;12 LET US SEARCH DEEPLY WITHIN OURSELVES AND ROOT OUT THAT WHICH SEPARATES US FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.FOR NONE OF US IS PERFECT HERE.INSTEAD LET US RECOGNIZE THAT WHATEVER SIN OUR BROTHERS OR SISTERS COMMIT MUST BE FORGIVEN THEM,THAT OUR SIN SHOULD BE FORGIVEN US. FOR WE ARE TOLD IN GOD'S WORD THAT ALL THINGS WILL BE (AND ARE BEING) BROUGHT TO PURIFICATION.IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT OF SEEING OURSELVES IN ONE ANOTHER THAT WE CAN BE MOST SUPPORTIVE . WHAT THIS WORLD NEEDS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW IS DEEP COMPASSION ,FORGIVENESS AND LOVING UNDERSTANDING OF OUR DIFFERENCES.EACH ONE OF US ON THIS PLANET MUST STRIVE TOWARD THIS REALIZATIION BECAUSE OUR VERY SURVIVAL AS A HUMANITY DEPENDS ON IT.
To Marie Kennedy,
You are completely wrong. You need to read Carolyn Jessop's book, "Escape" and the books, Shattered Dreams, His Favorite Wives by Susan Ray Schmidt and see the movie, "Banking on Heaven" and look at the Out of Polygamy.com website and do a lot more research on this evil cult through the internet. These women and children both boys and girls are being abused mentally, physically and sexually. Warren Jeff's own nephew is on TV telling everyone that Warren Jeff's abused him sexually. And Merril Jessop ran the compound in Texas, he was Carolyn Jessops husband and he is extremely abusive. Thank God Texas got those children out, even Carolyn Jessop said they were ready to commit suicide for their prophet. These women and children are oppressed and live in and controlled by fear. You try having babies every single year and work like a slave and see how you like it. The infants are also put under cold running water until they scream and cry. You are really in the dark about this evil cult. You need to hear testimonies of women who have escaped the FLDS. Would you want another Waco? People should be outraged at your comments. You really need to educate yourself on this cult. And it is not a loving religion, it is a sick, twisted excuse for older men to rape and abuse these young girls.
Grandmother in Oklahoma: You are right. People have the right to practice any religion they see fit; however, when that religion crosses the line and breaks the law, then the local law enforcement has every right to intrude. When the local law enforcement raided the ranch they witnessed many pregnant young girls appearing to be under the age of 16, while that in of itself is not against the law, it is against the law if the father of said baby is over the age of 18. A young girl under the age of 18 does not have the right to consent to sex with a male over the age of 18. The state does not care if the girl wanted to become preganant or wanted to have sex. Secondly, the point about the state footing the bill for these children, this should stop. I am not against any religion but I am against paying for multiple children when the "parents" cannot afford them. If I am responsible enough not to have children I cannot afford, why should I have to pay for irresponsible people who chose to have children they cannot afford? This is the reason why welfare laws should be rewritten and a cap place on how many children will be covered as well as a maximum lifetime payout.
Let's see; CPS takes teens away to foster care for being preganant.
Half the teens in San Antoino alone would be in picked up by CPS if they enforced this accross the board.
The children should not have been taken from their home. Instead, the men should have been removed and banned from returning. By ripping up children from their mothers, that is totally wrong. Forcing them into a different world is wrong. The state really needs to pursue those men who have caused child abuse and not take out this punishment on the children.
If this was church group of African-Americans that Big Brother raided and herded the children out, you can bet every civil rights lawyer and Black politician would be in Texas screaming. It would even probably be a Supreme Court case by this time.
No girls of 12-16 should not be forced to marry old men and have babies but very young girls do have babies by their own choosing. And more often than not, the state foots the medical cost and living costs of the girls with babies. And from what I understand, foster home children are more likely to be abused than children living with their own families. Sounds like prosecution before poof of crime. Just hope these children and mothers find some love and peace in their lives very soon.
I have a problem with your bias.
437 children were taken from their homes and parents,
WITHOUT JUST CAUSE. – Sensational! Outrageous!
These people have an entirely different culture, that frankly is none of your business. Is it a CRIME to be unpopular? I think not.
This illegal raid and false imprisonment is not justified certainly for MORAL reasons, nor because you have publically condemned them without any proof whatsoever. Obviously it's about money and the government's contrivances against Warren Jeffs.
In between your disgusting stories of teenage girl brats beating each other, teen suicides and high school massacres, and of course the daily Britney Spears updates, you have the audacity to suggest these law abiding families are abusive or IMMORAL? Give me a break.
Public schools insist Susie can have two mommies-but only if they are GAY I guess, modern culture glorifies single-motherhood as if worthy of canonization, and almost any arrangement between two consenting adults is just OKAY.
"...And what's up with those dresses" expressed by one of your snippy talking heads was uncalled for and disrespectful.
I'm going to say it again, MYOB – just who is flexing their muscles here, the government, the media?
You are wrong to TRY to convict the FLDS in the court of public opinion.
People should be outraged.
Marie Kennedy
I'm impressed with Texas and how they are coordinating this. Just like with the victims of Katrina that they took in they appear to be able to handle the logistics and needs of the children. I'm glad they are trying to keep the children within visiting distance of the mothers. Thanks for keeping us updated on what is going on with the children – I think about them often and hope for the best for them.
Annie Kate
Birmingham AL
What a disgrace! Only in America.
Not that I posses the wisdom of Solomon, but , wouldn't it make more sense to remove all of the males 18 or older from the compound and allow the mothers of these children to remain together on the compound until this could be sorted out. They could put Sheriffs deputies and child services staff there while the drama plays out. You would save millions of tax payer dollars keeping these kids out of foster care not to mention save these children's sanity by not taking them from their mothers. Now I don't condone their way of life, however, given the large number of children involved, I have to believe that having all the males over 18 years of age removed from the compound would eliminate the danger to the children until the courts can make a more informed decision. Then again knowing how the government works, this may make way too much sense. Thanks
My heart goes out to the children and women whose lives are so effected (affected) by events that have so drastically changed their lives. There is the letter of the law and there is humanity. I feel these women have been brain washed ( Patty Hearst) and know no other life even if deep, deep down they are afraid to realize that there is another way. With backs to the wall and lawyers who go by the letter of the law even if it's anaspect they don't understand, I feel they are being used and emotionally abused. If pushed, I'd stand for rights, right or wrong.
Also is the media trying to push that there is no man in their life other than the head of the whole group?
Rita