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Texas government agents
raided a compound owned by and for members of the
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS). They removed
over 400 children. Over 100 women chose to join the children in shelters, presumably
mothers trying to say with their children. Unfortunately, Texas kidnapped these
children and women so clumsily that it took a week to count them!
Now, they are placing them in homes with government-approved
religious (or non-religious) environments. It appears that the children will be
placed in foster homes and may never return to their parents. The raid was a response to an alleged
anonymous phone call from a female who claimed she is a pregnant 16-year-old
girl who was forced into marriage to a
man three times her age. It now is evident that the call was a
malicious hoax from someone who is trying to damage the FLDS church. I
acknowledge the need for state intervention when a specific crime is identified. This is
what Arizona and Utah have done in dealing with the FLDS church. These states
identify a specific offender and his victim(s). They then prosecute. But does
the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), do that? No, based on an
anonymous phone call (a hoax) and with no investigation whatsoever and with no
clear evidence that a crime had been committed by anyone, they attacked an entire
religion and community with the unconstitutional assumption that everyone is
guilty. To justify their ill-considered strike, they are now on a fishing
expedition to find a crime of any kind -- even if they have to
create their own evidence with DNA testing. They have needlessly and unlawfully torn apart scores of families and
must be held accountable. Unfortunately DFPS agents in any state are rarely held accountable
for the havoc they wreak. I don't see the police raiding an entire apartment complex and taking away all the women and children that live in the complex just because there was one 911 call regarding abuse. But that is exactly what
happened in this case. Those citizens who support this attack on the FLDS
church must think about what DFPS agents will do tomorrow to parents who send
their children to Bible camp -- or to those who don't. Or parents who send their
children to Christian schools -- or to those who don't. Or those who take their
children to a Methodist church -- or those who don't. We would do well to
remember
the words of Pastor
Martin Niemöller, "First they came for the Jews and I did not
speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they
came for the Communists and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist. Then they came
for the trade unionists and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist. Then they
came for me and there was no one left to speak
out for me." I am not affiliated with the FLDS church nor do I support their polygamous
lifestyle. I find their practice of arranged marriages involving children
repugnant. I am repulsed by a church leadership that takes wives and
children from a man who doesn't toe the line and gives those families to another
man who is deemed more faithful. But I do support human rights, the rule of law, and I
oppose unaccountable government agents who impose their arbitrary will on innocent people.
On the other hand, maybe this raid, combined with the imprisonment
of Warren Jeffs, will get the FLDS leadership to modify their
practices a bit. There is no question that child rape has at least
occasionally been an accepted practice in this church. That practice
must stop. This is cultural and religious genocide. Be very careful
Texans, next they will take your children because you "force" your
own children to attend a Bible camp run by Baptists! (12 Apr 2008) I've read statistics that show that Utah is highest
in use of Prozac and other anti-depressants. Other statistics say
Utah has the highest divorce rate of any state in the Union. Some
people use these statistics to challenge the value and values of the
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (Mormons or LDS). However, these statistics
can be misleading because of the way samples were taken. The studies
did not differentiate between practicing LDS church members,
non-practicing LDS church members, members of other churches, and
non-religious persons. "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned
lies and statistics." (Disraeli) "Facts are stubborn things, but
statistics are more pliable." (Laurence Peter) I have a book (Religion,
Mental Health and the Latter-day Saints by
Daniel K. Judd) that cites a study showing that there is no
difference in depression rates of LDS and non-LDS people. Therefore,
if Utah is highest in Prozac use, that would seem to be a measure of
our prescription rate -- not of depression itself. However,
one must consider that not all Utahns members of the LDS church. If
Utahns who are not practicing members of the LDS church have a
disproportionately high rate of depression, it could elevate the
average depression rate, but not necessarily be indicative of mental
health problems among active church members. Other studies indicate
that Utah also has the highest divorce and use-of-pornography rates.
But, you rarely see divorced people sharing your pew (dunno about
porn, but the emphasis on the subject by church leadership indicates
there may be a serious problem). I once saw a survey that showed
that only 5% of members of a stake in Southern California (San
Diego, if I recall correctly) had been divorced. If that 5% divorce
rate (or even triple that) is also typical of Utah Mormons, the "Gentiles"
and "Jack-Mormons"
would have to have a much higher divorce rate than the national
average to put Utah at the top of the divorce rate. Judd's book
cites a survey that shows an overall divorce rate of 14% for LDS men
and 19% for LDS women. However, the survey indicates that 5.4% of
temple-married men have been divorced as compared to 27.8% of
non-temple-married LDS men. Statistics for LDS women are very
similar. These figures indicate that faithful adherence to the
standards of the LDS church is good insurance against divorce. My
theory is that rebellion against the teachings instilled in LDS
members is what characterizes those who are prone to divorce and
depression. Conversely, learning to sacrifice for a higher cause
(regular church attendance, tithing and other offerings, fasting,
living the LDS health code, attending
Seminary
and
Institute -- especially early-morning Seminary, missions,
chastity, serving church callings, etc.) teaches active members the
skills needed to better resolve personal and marital problems. I'd
like to see a survey that compares divorce and depression (or
anti-depressant use) rates between temple recommend holders,
baptized LDS members who are inactive, and the rest of the adult
population. I think that one would see the highest rate of problems
among the inactive LDS. (9 Mar 2008) Salt Lake City recently enacted a "domestic partnership registry".
The Salt Lake domestic partnership registry gives legal recognition
to alternative relationships and civil unions, sending a message
which conflicts with the purpose and intent of Utah's Marriage
Amendment 3 (defining marriage as the "legal union between a man and
a woman"). Even though the registry is a city ordinance, what
happens in Salt Lake City does not stay in Salt Lake City. It
influences the rest of Utah. The destruction of the natural family
and the weakening of the institution of marriage has come at a very
high cost to society. Because of this, every person benefits from
public policies that encourage and preserve the institution of
traditional marriage. Because I disagree with the Salt Lake Registry
and any other effort to trivialize the natural family, I support
Utah Senate Bill 299 which would prohibit anti-family ordinances
like the "domestic partnership registry" recently enacted in Salt
Lake City. (1 Mar 2008) HR-2015 (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) (ENDA) was introduced as HR-2015 purportedly to prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In reality, this bill further attempts to legitimize deviant and destructive behavior by forcing it upon virtually everyone in the nation. As worded, this bill prohibits any company or organization
which employs 15 or more persons from discriminating against persons with deviant sexual behaviors such as homosexuality.
ENDA abolishes the concept of male/female and forces employers to accept the idea that gender exists only in the mind. Employers will be forced to defend against frivolous complaints about dress and grooming standards. For example, a man who wants to wear a mini skirt to work can complain that the employer is discriminating, when the employer is simply upholding a corporate image. Companies could not
refuse to hire a man who wanted to be a woman, dress like a woman and
use the woman's restroom!
With very narrow exceptions, it would force churches, church-run schools, church-run adoption agencies, etc. to employ persons who violate the church's moral standards. It would force the Boy Scouts to hire persons who violate the very standards of conduct they try to teach to the next generation. This bill clearly violates our Constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom of association by forcing us to associate with persons whose behavior we find to be abhorrent. This is just one more example of Congress and the federal government imposing its will upon the people simply because few members of Congress have the moral courage to say no to to immorality, anti-family agendas, and self-destructive behavior.
At what point will Congress finally draw the line? Pedophilia?
Bestiality? Necrophilia? This bill must be stopped immediately! (20 Sep
2007)
I am deeply concerned by the so-called "hate crimes" bill HR 1592
(the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007) and
its effect on Christians. This bill establishes the legal framework
to persecute and prosecute those who refuse, for moral and religious
reasons, to agree or teach their children that homosexuality,
transgender, cross-dressing etc is normal and desirable. A pastor’s
sermon concerning homosexuality could be considered an incitement to
violence and punished with a fine or prison. The growing cry for
"diversity" is simply a demand for acceptance of deviant behavior.
HR 1592 will legislate acceptance of, even encourage, deviant,
immoral lifestyles by criminalizing those who reject such immoral
behavior. Congress and the President must oppose any efforts to pass
"hate-crimes" legislation. (12 Apr 2007)
"Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them
male and female, and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his
father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall
become one flesh?' So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What
therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart."
(Matthew 19:4-6) Marriage is an institution established by God. Only
in relatively recent years have governments assumed the role of
managing this spiritual institution. Now, courts and even
legislatures are willing to "tear apart" what "God has joined
together". Experts consistently say a child does best when raised in
an intact home by his/her father and mother. Congress, the courts
and the Whitehouse must take every possible step to avoid harming
that intact traditional family through misguided government
programs. Governments must also take every possible step to ensure
the success of that intact traditional family. I am wary of any
changes to the
US Constitution, whether formally by amendment or
informally, by judicial activism. Nevertheless, I see the
Marriage Amendment as the last stand against anti-traditional
forces. (13 Jul 2006)
My first car was a ten-year-old '63 Ford Falcon. I have owned a
total of 9 Ford cars and trucks. I currently own two Fords and have
never owned another brand of car or truck. Because Ford has chosen to dedicate a significant
portion of its advertising dollars to advertising in magazines
touting the homosexual lifestyle. Tale a look at the Ford ads right
next to revolting content in
The Advocate. I have pledged to never buy another new Ford (or
Mercury or Lincoln or Volvo, etc.) until Ford ceases to support the
homosexual lifestyle through the placement of its ads. This issue
was a topic at the recent Ford stockholders meeting and Ford
management is fully aware that we dedicated Ford owners are
disgusted by Ford's current policy of supporting the homosexual lifestyle.
They don't seem to care. Because of this issue, one of my sons just
bought a new Pontiac with my encouragement. My family is dead
serious about this. Ford must stop supporting the homosexual lifestyle
through advertising or by any other means. Surely Ford must
understand that they offend a far greater market among traditional
families! (24 May 2006)
Arthur Frommer, author of Frommer's Travel Guides has called for a
boycott of Kanab, Utah because the town announced its support for
the traditional family. I will not buy books from anyone who is an
anti-family bigot. (17 Mar 2006)
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