Texas FLDS case: religious belief and homeschooling or abuse on trial?
David Bernstein has this post on the Volokh Conspiracy. He observes:
. . . some commenters seem to assert that the CPS may take all of the FLDS’s children away because (a) there has been documented abuse of children at other FLDS communities; and/or (b) the “culture” of the FLDS is inherently abusive, as it encourages early marriage and leaves its children inherently isolated by homeschooling them and not exposing them to social events, television, and the like. The latter criterion, at least, would place Amish and some of the more insular ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in jeopardy.
Bernstein also links to this Deseret News report: Judge in FLDS case peppers CPS with questions. The report indicates that the judge has backed down, to some extent, from efforts to separate nursing infants from their mothers.
It also indicates that the court and/or CPS are already thinking about efforts to put the children into public schools, but there is concern about “culture shock.”
Click the polygamy tag below to view related reports, including this one posted yesterday: Polygamists Cause Questions Regarding Home School Laws.
One Comment
I’m all for religious freedom, but that’s not what this is. This is the right of society to protect all its citizens, including children, from abuse and criminal behavior, parental or otherwise. Would we let Muslims get away with Sharia law as long as they are in their mosques?