Update: FLDS Children of YFZ Ranch

(This post is an on-going update to the "Abuse in America" story written Jan 28 - Feb 3, 2008. You can find the full 3-part story by clicking "Older Posts" at the bottom of this page.)

Several news sources are reporting yesterday's appeals court ruling in Texas. The appeals court ruled the State of Texas had unjustly removed the 400+ children from the FLDS Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado, TX. Texas Child Protective Services has ten days to appeal this ruling. During this time, the children will remain in the custody of Texas.

Needless to say, FLDS sect members of the YFZ Ranch are celebrating this appeals court decision.

Please pray the judicial process will continue to insure the safety and welfare of these children. Unless the FLDS discontinue several of their "religious" practices, these children are not safe with their parents. Because the removal of these children was settled peacefully with little stand-off and no loss of life, this may be the only chance anyone will have to stop this misguided cult from abusing their children.

The time is now for this sect's abuses to be brought to an end. They cannot claim the right to religious freedom while denying other constitutional rights. They cannot be allowed to continue to abuse women and children in the United States.

If these children are returned to the YFZ Ranch, I fear finding them again will be a real problem for law enforcement. The FLDS have at least one other guarded compound in Idaho. If the FLDS members feel they cannot be allowed to continue to practice their religious dogma freely in the United States, they could very well head to another country where they could be under less scrutiny.

This link is for the MSNBC report of this story. Several related NBC Today Show video links can also be found on this site. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24789427

Also, this blog has been very busy lately: http://texaspolygamy.blogspot.com/.