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Once again all eyes are on Texas as the events surrounding the raid on the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints compound play out in the courts and the media. Reactions from across the country are those of indignation and moral outrage as reports of those cult member's lifestyles become public knowledge. Central to the story are the twin themes of plural marriage and under age brides.

At this present point in history polygamy is illegal in each of the fifty United States. While not legal within our borders, the practice of plural marriage is widespread around the globe. The Ethnographic Atlas Code Book commenting on 1231 societies worldwide states that while 186 were monogamous, the remaining 1045 varied from occasional to frequent polygamy.

Among the nations where some form of polygamy is legal are, in no particular order, South Africa, Sudan, Angola, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, India, China, Hong Kong, Senegal, Israel, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and the United States of America. Not commonly known, the US law on polygamy provides a loop hole that allows visitors from countries where polygamy is legal to practice plural marriage while on our soil. Mongolia is discussing the legalization of polygamy and Canada is questioning whether their ban on plural marriage passes constitutional muster.

All mainstream Christian denominations condemn plural marriage but those people from whom Christianity springs, the ancient Israelites embraced plural marriage as a way of life.

Beginning in 1650 CE, at the end of the 30 years War, the Parliament of Nurnberg decreed that for the following ten years every man was allowed up to ten wives: This in an effort to build their population back to pre-war numbers.

Martin Luther, the Father of the Reformation, commenting on polygamy said he "could not forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the scripture."

Organizations currently siding with legalizing polygamy in the United States include the ACLU, several feminist activists and the Libertarian Party.

This is but a very brief exposition on the origins and current position of polygamy in the world today and is offered a starting point for forming an opinion on the following question: Should the United States of America sever ties or otherwise refuse to do business with nations that allow polygamy and under age marriage.

The overwhelming reactions to the raid on the FLDS compound in Eldorado, Texas were indignation and moral outrage. The idea that women and children could be subjected to such archaic conditions aroused a national anger and yet we, as a nation, continue to have alliances, both political and financial, with countries where such conditions are codified by law.

If we have the right and duty to spend the lives of several thousands of our finest young people in order to change political systems in the Middle East, do we not have a greater moral obligation to take whatever steps possible to free those millions of women and children held in the bondage of plural marriages where ever on Earth they might be?

The United States of America has set itself up as the moral authority for the planet.

On the subject of plural marriage, can we afford to stop with just one small group in Central Texas. Our world needs us.

Learn more about this author, Rick Fontes.
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