Monday, May 05, 2008

FLDS: Circumstances don't call for removing every child and boy

Utah, Arizona AGs feel fallout from FLDS raid
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695276307,00.html

excerpt Copyright 2008 Deseret News
By Ben WinslowDeseret News

Published: Sunday, May 4, 2008 12:30 a.m. MDT

Texas child protective services officials have said in court that the children on the YFZ Ranch were growing up in a culture that lends itself to abuse. Shurtleff said he can't reach the same conclusion.

"Let's say you're a 6-month-old girl, no evidence whatsoever of any abuse. They're simply saying, 'You, in this culture, may grow up to be a child bride when you're 14. Therefore we're going to remove you now when you're 6 months old,"' he said. "Or, 'You're a 6-month-old boy; 25, 30 years, 40 years from now you're going to be a predator, so we're going to take you away now."'

Rod Parker, a Salt Lake attorney acting as a spokesman for the FLDS, said he can agree with Shurtleff on one point.

"What Texas has done here is beyond the pale. I agree with Mark that the circumstances don't call for that kind of heavy-handed action," he said.

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