I have made precious few comments about the scandal surrounding the Yearning For Zion ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What I can say so far is that just about the whole thing disgusts me. <\/p>\n
For starters, if the allegations against the FLDS are true (in whole or even a significant part), the FLDS itself is disgusting. I wouldn’t say disgusting because of its isolation from society. Nor does it disgust me that they have large families in a communal setting. In fact, the polygamy and host of half siblings doesn’t really disgust me. What disgusts me is the alleged institutionalized sexual abuse. Regardless of age, non-consensual sexual relationships are disgusting. If it’s true that many of them are very young, it simply makes it even more disgusting. I do hope none of the allegations are true, but if they are, the real abusers are disgusting and are in need of some serious repentance. <\/p>\n
Moreso, the media disgusts me. They have clearly crossed the line from journalism to mud slinging in their linguistic portrayal of the group. There’s no other accurate description for phrases like “renegade Mormon sect.” And it’s simply a matter of perspective as to whether the people at the ranch “lived insulated lives” and we’re a part of “mainstream society” or the other way around. Are we in an insulated world of sin, insulated from God? The obvious media bias against withdrawal from society is totally inappropriate.<\/p>\n
Worse yet, they’ve made polygamy and the group’s separation from the rest of the world the main issue, and not sexual abuse which would be the real crime with real victims. A recent AP article mentioned polygamy four times, and used the words insulation, isolation and mainstream five times. That’s nine mentions of characteristics that aren’t, on their own, non-consensual, aggressive, or abusive. In that same article, they mentioned sexual abuse four times and only once mentioned the fact that young children were allegedly forced into marriage. What’s more important here? Is it that a large group of people were systematically and abusively forcing children into non-consensual sexual relationships or is it that they isolated themselves from society and practice multiple marriage?<\/p>\n
And no diatribe on disgust would be complete without mentioning government. Where should I start? Would it be with the tipster who hasn’t been found, but whose phone calls resulted in an “emergency order” from a judge affecting a whopping 416 children? Would it be with the fact that those 416 children have been forcibly separated from their families and placed in government custody based on group association and not individual conviction of criminal activity? Or would it be with the apparent impending treatment of most or all the children legally as a group and not as individuals? Maybe we should start with what has all the markings of the presumption of guilt?<\/p>\n
Having said all that, I am glad that it appears nobody was killed in the process of destroying whatever good there may have been with those families. Now, I suppose, we should pray that the truth comes out and that the people handling those cases handle them wisely. I pray that all of the abuse stops, and any actual abusers are properly corrected. But I also pray, whether we like it or not, that all of the non-abusive, loving family environments are restored as quickly as possible. And for those families who may become involved in this case via the foster care system, I pray they will have the wisdom to handle the situation with love, care, and respect for everyone involved.<\/p>\n
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I have made precious few comments about the scandal surrounding the Yearning For Zion ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What I can say so far is that just about the whole thing disgusts me. For starters, if the allegations against the FLDS are \u2026 Continue reading