Children are our future. As a society and an individual, we are morally bound to step in and intervene whenever there is even so much as a hint that children are being abused either physically and emotionally. If we chose to do nothing, we would be condoning that abuse.

There are laws on the books that should be observed concerning age of consent - and maritable age - and yes, polygamy. The mainstream Mormons confronted this a long time ago - These practices of the renegade Mormons border on abuse of women and children - & there are laws about that, too. No one should be exempt - or we are setting a dangerous precedent. We have to agree on some fundamental tenets to be a cohesive society. (What makes it worse is that it seems that many of these extramarital families are getting welfare and other social “benefits” because the patriarch isn’t able to financially support these extra families! So we are not talking about roughed self-reliance here by any means….)

I will be interested in what the government learns from these women and children. We don’t really know yet what was going on in this compound, but we will know shortly. I have no idea whether what happened in Texas was well researched and a necessary strike against an abusive cult or a rash decision by what is, at this point, a government that has no respect for its own laws.

I’m trying very hard to come up with any cogent reason why the goings on in a polygamist group that puts children at risk is *not* within our responsibility to monitor and be our *collective* business. Nope. Can’t think of one.

Sugar B, you’re right, consenting adults should be left alone, however, from what has been said by former members of similar cults, often times women aren’t allowed to think for themselves. They are considered property of their husbands and must think as they are told. Therefore, if you asked them they wouldn’t be able to answer any other way than they are consenting. My opinion is that I think the authorities should step in (and should have stepped in earlier as others have commented) once they heard of very young girls being “married”. That is why having a young legal marrying age usually works against women. Also, since there is much speculation about incest having occurred, I think there should be DNA testing done to unravel the genetic “story” of these children. That surely would be a service to the women and children should the authorities lose the legal battle over custody. I should hate to have those involved in incest to regain control over the innocents.

You bet we are duty-bound to care for “the other” in our midst. If it was slavery we’d have no hesitation about stepping in, whether it was children or adults. So what’s the difference when it’s enforced “semi-marital” bondage? There is no difference in my opinion. Those of us on the outside of a cult have little idea about the mind-bending numbness of those who are in it. That goes for the men, too. I hate what they stand for, but most of them haven’t a clue how else to think.

Is child abuse our business? Is the abuse of women our business? We need to stop being so timid about identifying the never-ending collaboration of some men to exploit and abuse women as “religion”. Enough!

anytime a young women calls and says she has been forced to have sex as a usual and common practice within a group , is enough for authoritys to to investigate and close it down.

If polygamy involves underage children and what is considered child abuse is most certainly is our business. I think I am open minded but this practice is something beyond what I can accept.

I have enough to handle with my monogomous relationship — after 29 years, 5 kids and three grandkids — my dear spouse is back in school sudying to be a medical assistant. But… there need to be social services that provide help for “victims” of forced lifestyles. These women have no recourse but to ask for help. Wouldn’t we help a child who was being vitimized by physical abuse?

I believe we have a responsibility to protect the children

I think that not only should polygamist groups be watched, but that they should not be allowed because they are as far as I know always run by men who have put themselves in an almost God-like position of authority. They operate on fear and victimize the young, the unfortunate desperate people and they put women in a position where they have no power over their own well being and destiny.

You bet it’s our business. Especially women’s business! Polygamy practice is a degradation to women alone. The exposure for abuse to young ladies must be a thousand-fold over the general population. There is an isolation which breeds a form of brain-washing. I am not big on “regulation” and government interference, but the young girls being raised in this environment have no other perspective and cannot realize there are other options for them. Polygamy only goes in the favor of men. I could almost guarantee that if the opposite were true (women using and abusing men), this practice would have been completely condemned and actively shut down. It is wrong, wrong, wrong - in any perspective you want to look at it.

It’s child molestation dressed up as religious freedom. If these were boys being molested, there wouldn’t be a question of what to do.