Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 115
Attorney General Geoff Plant has not moved against Bountiful because he believes that
Canada‘s polygamy law would be struck down in the name of religious freedom if tested,
even though a succession of federal justice ministers have believed that the law would
withstand a Charter of Rights challenge.
But even assuming that a case against a polygamist is doomed to failure, and leaving aside
sexual abuse and human rights violations, how realistic is Plant‘s advice to Bountiful‘s
women to bring their complaints to the police when they have been raised to believe
outsiders are evil, that monogamy is a sin, and that church leaders speak directly to God?
He admits that coordinated aid to those who have left Bountiful might help, but he has
expressed no interest in doing anything. (Daphne Bramham, Canwest News Service,
Vancouver Sun, Internet, 6/2/04)
Texas Town Anxious about Polygamist Newcomers
Many people in Eldorado, TX, are worried about plans for a settlement in their midst by
followers of the 10,000-member Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints (FLDS) who come from the polygamous communities of Hilldale, UT, and Colorado
City, AZ, where the FLDS is being investigated on charges of underage marriages, child
abuse, and welfare fraud. Residents are bothered by the secrecy of FLDS plans and the
group‘s practice of multiple marriages.
People here have been reading a book by former FLDS member Flora Jessup, who says that
living in remote areas is one of the ways FLDS leader Warren Jeffs controls church
followers. FLDS lawyer Rod Parker says: ―I see the Texas thing as more of a place to retreat
from some of the pressure they‘re now under.‖
The local sheriff, although aware that the FLDS is allegedly stockpiling weapons, says it is
not considered a violent group. (Jean Marbella, Baltimore Sun, Internet, 6/3/04)
Probe into Polygamous Police
The Utah State Police Academy is reviewing the ―lifestyles‖ of more than half of the Hilldale,
UT, police force partly because it questions whether 13 officers, all practicing FLDS
polygamists, can police one another. Bigamy is a crime in Utah, but like adultery, also a
crime, it is rarely prosecuted.
The Attorney General says he can‘t afford to prosecute every bigamy case but that he will
act against polygamists who also commit welfare fraud or sexual crimes against minors.
(Matt Canham and Matthew D. LaPlante, Salt Lake Tribune, Internet, 6/16/04)
Church Can’t Take His House
Mohave County Superior Court Judge James Chavez has ruled that the polygamous
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints cannot evict church critic
and member Ross Chatwin from a home on land it owns in Colorado City, AZ. Chavez ruled
that Chatwin has ―possessory‖ interest in the property because the church promised he
could live there for life. The judge also said the FLDS cannot evict Chatwin without
compensation for improvements he‘s made. (AP, Internet, 6/3/04)
Public School Teaches Polygamy Is Good
Schools run by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)
have for nearly two decades received public grants — some $460,000 last year — while
teaching that polygamy is a sacred commandment from God, that women can enter heaven
only if their husbands invite them, and that brown-skinned people are descendants of
Satan. There are two such schools in Bountiful. One, Mormon Hills, is controlled by
Winston Blackmore, who now leads a break-away faction of the church following his
excommunication two years ago by church prophet Warren Jeffs. The other school is
Attorney General Geoff Plant has not moved against Bountiful because he believes that
Canada‘s polygamy law would be struck down in the name of religious freedom if tested,
even though a succession of federal justice ministers have believed that the law would
withstand a Charter of Rights challenge.
But even assuming that a case against a polygamist is doomed to failure, and leaving aside
sexual abuse and human rights violations, how realistic is Plant‘s advice to Bountiful‘s
women to bring their complaints to the police when they have been raised to believe
outsiders are evil, that monogamy is a sin, and that church leaders speak directly to God?
He admits that coordinated aid to those who have left Bountiful might help, but he has
expressed no interest in doing anything. (Daphne Bramham, Canwest News Service,
Vancouver Sun, Internet, 6/2/04)
Texas Town Anxious about Polygamist Newcomers
Many people in Eldorado, TX, are worried about plans for a settlement in their midst by
followers of the 10,000-member Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints (FLDS) who come from the polygamous communities of Hilldale, UT, and Colorado
City, AZ, where the FLDS is being investigated on charges of underage marriages, child
abuse, and welfare fraud. Residents are bothered by the secrecy of FLDS plans and the
group‘s practice of multiple marriages.
People here have been reading a book by former FLDS member Flora Jessup, who says that
living in remote areas is one of the ways FLDS leader Warren Jeffs controls church
followers. FLDS lawyer Rod Parker says: ―I see the Texas thing as more of a place to retreat
from some of the pressure they‘re now under.‖
The local sheriff, although aware that the FLDS is allegedly stockpiling weapons, says it is
not considered a violent group. (Jean Marbella, Baltimore Sun, Internet, 6/3/04)
Probe into Polygamous Police
The Utah State Police Academy is reviewing the ―lifestyles‖ of more than half of the Hilldale,
UT, police force partly because it questions whether 13 officers, all practicing FLDS
polygamists, can police one another. Bigamy is a crime in Utah, but like adultery, also a
crime, it is rarely prosecuted.
The Attorney General says he can‘t afford to prosecute every bigamy case but that he will
act against polygamists who also commit welfare fraud or sexual crimes against minors.
(Matt Canham and Matthew D. LaPlante, Salt Lake Tribune, Internet, 6/16/04)
Church Can’t Take His House
Mohave County Superior Court Judge James Chavez has ruled that the polygamous
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints cannot evict church critic
and member Ross Chatwin from a home on land it owns in Colorado City, AZ. Chavez ruled
that Chatwin has ―possessory‖ interest in the property because the church promised he
could live there for life. The judge also said the FLDS cannot evict Chatwin without
compensation for improvements he‘s made. (AP, Internet, 6/3/04)
Public School Teaches Polygamy Is Good
Schools run by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)
have for nearly two decades received public grants — some $460,000 last year — while
teaching that polygamy is a sacred commandment from God, that women can enter heaven
only if their husbands invite them, and that brown-skinned people are descendants of
Satan. There are two such schools in Bountiful. One, Mormon Hills, is controlled by
Winston Blackmore, who now leads a break-away faction of the church following his
excommunication two years ago by church prophet Warren Jeffs. The other school is
