Keep sweet or keep quiet?
 
By Joe Amarante
New Haven Register, Conn.
 
In April, officials in Texas invaded a polygamist religious compounds and took custody of 462 children over concerns about sexual abuse of girls. Two months later, the legality of the raid was overturned. But the questions and concerns remain.

MSNBC explores the issue in a compelling hour documentary called "Religion or Mind Control?" at 10 p.m. Sunday.

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints split off from the rest of the Mormons over the issue of polygamy a century ago, and its adherents now live in isolated compounds in Arizona and Utah. Outsiders are locked out and members are virtually locked in. Girls are told continually to "keep sweet" no matter what, and be submissive to their husband (singular; only the guys get multiple spouses). To many, it sounds like Cult 101: isolation, control and demonizing those who leave. Says one woman who left the FLDS and who works to save girls from it, "I do believe that it's terrorism hiding behind the skirt of religion. I also believe that it's a criminal organization, and it's founded on the exploitation and abuse of children." Defenders of the group say that it's just nontraditional, pious and voluntary. And yet others close to the group say it's not about religion but about the systematic abuse of females. One guy who made a film about the Colorado City, Ariz., branch, termed the FLDS "America's Taliban."

Self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs, you may recall, expanded into Texas and took the most faithful followers (and some of his estimated 50 wives) with him several years ago. After a 32-year-old policeman in Colorado City with two wives was thrown in jail for marrying and impregnating a 16-year-old girl, his leader Jeffs felt the heat and went on the run across the Southwest.

Jeffs had obedient girls stashed at safe houses; one photo shows him kissing a 12-year-old girl. He's now in prison.

The church says it will no longer preside over marriages of underage females. But these few inbred clans have been doing their thing for 100 years, so don't expect them to stop.

Now that the children have been returned to FLDS families, the question posed by this intriguing documentary is whether the FLDS will thrive anew or whether the government will be able to enforce state and federal laws within such an isolated group.
 
nhregister.com
Originally published June 20, 2008
 
Back