Polygamous fundamentalists baptized by proxy into LDS Church, researcher says

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:24:20 +0000

Prominent fundamentalist Mormons, most of whom were excommunicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for practicing polygamy while they were alive, have been posthumously re-baptized in LDS temples, a Salt Lake City researcher says.

"The LDS Church appears to be reinventing its polygamous history, as it ushers excommunicated Mormon fundamentalists back into the LDS fold through a postmortem back door," Helen Radkey wrote in her report.

Religion News Roundup: Aum Shinrikyo, Scientology, Pareidolia, FLDS, and more

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:01:07 +0000

The RNB Religion News Roundup for Friday, Apr. 24, 2009 includes items about Scientology, Aum Shinrikyo, Korean cult leader Jeong Myeong-Seok, the continuing popularity of Aum Shrinrikyo's jailed cult leader, and China's on-going ban on Falun Gong.

Also: • A US state must pay benefits to the wife of a Jehovah's Witness who died after refusing a blood transfusion �• A killer turned pastor upsets his victim's son �• Nigerian preacher speaks out against witch hunts �• Vampire story gets demoted...

Plus: what do you see? Pareidolia?

Polygamous religious cult tries to suppress evidence in criminal cases

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:49:16 +0000

Attorneys for indicted members of the FLDS dropped a 7,000-page bombshell Wednesday on the 51st District Court, alleging that Texas Rangers misled Judge Barbara Walther into issuing a pair of search warrants that authorized last year's raid on the polygamous sect's Schleicher County compound.

The Texas Attorney General's Office, which is handling the prosecutions, issued a statement Wednesday that called the FLDS motion "baseless and without merit."

FLDS members to testify at legislative hearing

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:46:10 +0000

Last year, Texas Child Protective Services removed 439 children living at a West Texas ranch owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints because caseworkers reported finding evidence of girls being married to adults.

Today, FLDS members will testify before the Texas House Committee on Human Services. Committee members will be discussing what occurred in Eldorado last year, the state’s actions and discussing a new measure that would clarify alternatives CPS workers can take, when child abuse is suspected in a household.

Texas vs. FLDS: 1 year after the raid

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:56:49 +0000

1 year after the raid on the Yearning for Zion ranch, just one child remains in state custody. Twelve men face criminal charges related to underage marriages; the first trial is set for October. A new legislative committee is set to explore "lessons learned" from the raid, which has cost upward of $15 million.

Texas authorities resolutely defend their actions as necessary for the children's safety. And members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints remain as firmly committed to their faith as ever.

Polygamy ‘clear challenge’ to Canadian values: Federal document

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:41:01 +0000

In January, the RCMP charged two prominent members of a fundamentalist Mormon sect in Bountiful, B.C., with practising polygamy.

The lawyer for one of them has vowed to cite his client's religious freedom as a defence, leading some legal and constitutional experts to speculate the case could go all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.

FLDS mother accused of switching babies in effort to avoid DNA test

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:20:15 +0000

Texas child welfare authorities are accusing a 17-year-old girl from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch of switching babies to avoid having to undergo a DNA test.

In a court filing in San Angelo, Texas, made public on Monday, Child Protective Services urges a judge to cancel a Friday hearing over the girl and order her to undergo a psychological evaluation.

Accused polygamist looking for legal aid from B.C.

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:46:25 +0000

Winston Blackmore has yet to enter his plea to the criminal charge of practising polygamy, but he's already on his third lawyer, has filed for legal aid and asked Utah's attorney-general for help in having his bail conditions amended.

Blackmore's new lawyer is Joe Arvay, a well-known human rights and constitutional lawyer, whose firm successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Canada that the Constitution protects gays and lesbians from discrimination.

Muslim peer claims UK politicians are scared of discussing polygamy

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:28:42 +0000

Politicians are too scared to discuss multiple marriages in case they offend Muslims, shadow minister for Community Cohesion Baroness Warsi has claimed.

The Muslim peer blamed "cultural sensitivity" for the failure to tackle the problem of polygamy.

Nonprofit group formed to help polygamists makes its debut

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:42:45 +0000

Polygamists, ex-polygamists, activists, lawyers and government officials were all in the same room Saturday night, supporting the newest organization to reach out to offer help to people in Utah's cloistered polygamous communities. A fundraiser gala at Gardner Village drew nearly 200 people for the debut of Holding Out HELP (Helping, Encouraging and Loving Polygamists).

The goal of “Holding Out HELP” is to provide shelter, food and clothing to those who want to leave polygamy and start a new life. And for those who want to stay with their families and community, Towell talks of counseling, legal assistance and support.