I agree with Linda7. I think this judge may send the little ones back based on the psychiatrist's testimony. He is CPS' witness, right? Judges really like expert psychological/psychiatric testimony. However, I agree with Molly that it likely would not happen until the kids are identified. They need to have DNA tests to determine who both parents are, or at least the mother. And I have seen nothing definitive as to whether this has been done. They also need fingerprints, footprints, photos and lists of who the parents and/or siblings could be. Otherwise, they may just disappear. If CPS keeps track of them on a weekly basis, or something like that, having them come in for welfare checks every so often, that could help as well. The problem is, this is a culture, according to scores of those who have left or escaped, that abuses little babies. I'm sure not all, but when you are talking about underage mothers, overworked mothers, too many kids in one household, oppressed, abused women and children who were abused growing up to raise kids, the risk is high for abuse of these little ones, especially in a society that appears not to frown on pretty severe corporal punishment of small children. CPS is focusing on sexual abuse of young girls/teen girls. What about the physical abuse we have heard so much about among the FLDS? I wonder if they have found any evidence of that with this Eldorado group? I heard some witness statements alluding to such (suspected broken bones and serious injury leading to risk of death, if I recall), but for some reason, no more has been said at this hearing.
By the way, who is this religion expert? Has he ever talked to actual members who have escaped or been kicked out and thus have nothing to hide? If he has accessed the media, then surely he knows about the crackdown by the authorities on rampant underage marriage in Uath and Arizona. He must have heard the story of the two Fawns who had to esacpe so they would not be "forced" into marriage. I thought no one was made to do so? (Sarcasm) He must have heard also about the case involving the sixteen year old girl who was taken to a farm and horsewhipped by her father for refusing to marry her middle-aged uncle. That was all over the news a couple of years back. Not forced, huh? There is a ton of info on these people and if only a few of the scores of people who have fled or were kicked out is telling the truth, this is a dangerous society for children and women of all ages. It really seems this expert is ignoring quite a bit. And, I'm afraid it may be in part due to his own Mormon heritage. Please understand, I am well aware that mainstream Mormons ARE NOT FLDS. I have a lot of respect for the Latter Day Saints - their work ethic, attention to and emphasis on family, always helping their own people with whatever they need - and I respect their religious views, although I do not agree with much of it. They seem to be good people. However, mainstream Mormons do believe in polygamy in the afterlife. And, they have been notorious, in heavily Mormon AZ and UT, for turning a blind eye to polygamy and other issues involving the FLDS and other similar groups. For example, women attemtping to leave these groups often lose in custody battles or in their attempts to obtain restraining orders against husbands, because the judge is sympathetic to the group. This, I feel, is due to a religious belief in ultimate polygamy (Doctrines and Covenants 132), a family history of polygamy within many mainstream Mormon families and just the belief that these are quaint people living an old-fashioned, pure life and should be left alone, like their great-grand parents. I also think there is a tendency among many Mormons to deny some of the more horrific things happening in polygamist Mormon offshoot cults because they are afraid of the bad publicity and the eventual association of the mainstream church with these strange groups. Mormons have been working hard to demonstrate that they are just like every other religion and every time some wacko group gets publicity, they feel the heat too. Think of the presidential election. I think Mitt did not have a chance because of his religion, which is a shame. One's religion should not matter as long as they uphold democracy. But, people are too suspicious of Mormons and I feel, unfairly so. Okay, a bit too much blabbering from me. I just hope the judge is aware of how the religion expert's own background has the potential for coloring his viewpoints.
