by Mick Marten

Created on: April 23, 2008

This morning, as some of the men of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (not to be confused with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who don't condone polygamy) speak out for the first time about the legal proceedings which have drawn this reclusive, isolationist group into the national limelight, I continue to be dumbfounded at how the leaders of groups like this manage to convince their followers, if not themselves, that after flouting law after law of the nation within which they reside, that they can manage the repercussions, and everything will be just fine. Time after time we watch groups just like this one, who have done so, be brought to trial and convicted for their crimes.

And still, they stand on T.V., looking hurt and confused for the camera, after the inevitable has happened, as though it were completely unexpected.

This group, residing on a compound in El Dorado, Texas (I hate the term 'compound' because it sounds oddly militant; but what do you call it? 'Commune' sounds to hippy, and it sure isn't your standard neighborhood), was brought to the attention of authorities by an anonymous phone caller, claiming to be a teenage girl living within the compound, citing forced marriages, and other abuses. The authorities obtained a warrant based on this, and proceeded to check it out. Although no one would admit to having placed the phone call (presumably out of fear of the others finding out it was them), officers and social workers couldn't help but notice the large number of pregnant young girls, children really, some of them as young as thirteen according to reports. So they obtained permission to remove the children from the compound, just as they would remove the children from the home of anyone accused of molestation; and if, indeed, girls this young are pregnant, and the father is not a child as well, then molestation has occurred. We all understand that there is an age of consent that exists almost everywhere, including Texas.

But the age is only one part of the issue.

Not long ago the leader of this polygamist splinter faction of the Mormon church, Warren Jeffs (Yep, according to what can be determined, this is a group from the same church he was leader of) was convicted of 'rape as an accomplice' for arranging the marriages of young girls to older men, and conducting those ceremonies. He is currently serving his sentence where he was charged, in Utah, incidentally the most tolerant state with regards

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