Texas, polygamists reach tentative deal on kids

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Texas, polygamists reach tentative deal on kids

AP foreign, Friday May 30 2008

By MICHELLE ROBERTS

Associated Press Writer

SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) - More than 400 children removed
from a polygamist sect's ranch will be returned to their
parents beginning Monday, state officials chastened by a
state Supreme Court ruling said Friday as they hammered
out an agreement with the families.

The children won't be able to leave Texas but they will be
allowed to move back to Yearning For Zion Ranch, where
child-welfare officials have alleged that underage girls were
pushed into spiritual marriages with older men. The parents
say there was no abuse, and two courts ruled that the state
overstepped its authority in removing all children from the
ranch, from infants to teenagers.

Texas Child Protective Services took custody of the children
from the west Texas ranch after a raid nearly two months ago.
A court order that a judge restore custody to parents applies
to only 124 of the children, but state officials said about
300 others taken under identical circumstances also will be
returned.

A draft agreement released by CPS attorney Gary Banks says
the parents can get their children back after showing
identification and pledging to take parenting classes and
remain in Texas.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7551626

[slackmaster]

1. I really feel sorry for the young kids getting jacked around like that

It's a travesty. The end result may be that the cult becomes more firmly isolated than they already are.

[FreakinDJ]

2. Just like Communist re-education centers

"pledging to take parenting classes"

They shouldn't have to pledge any thing. Texas protective services overstepped their bounds and had no reason to remove the children in the first place

[FiveGoodMen]

3. Seems like there was evidence of statutory rape

[sandnsea]

6. Only 124 of the children

It looks like those rules apply to the parents of the other 300 children. And shame on the Texas courts for not protecting these kids. They sure as hell would have no problem if they were Mexican illegals.

[musette_sf]

4. so can we assume

that if they do not take the parenting classes, and/or if they leave the state, that warrants will be put out for their arrests?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

5. and the mainstreaming of the sexual abuse of children continues...

gawd bluse amurica

[fasttense]

7. What about the polygamy charges?

Seems to me polygamy is a crime. Why aren't they all fined and or imprisoned for polygamy?

[woo me with science]

8. I wonder if any of the children will be changed by this experience.

More curious about the outside world, anyway, and life beyond what they have been taught.