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Welcome to the blog of Connor Boyack, a 20-something husband, web designer, Latter-day Saint, constitutionalist, paleocon, classical liberal, preparedness practitioner, budding philanthropist, and master's student of political economy. I'm from Poway, CA but live in Happy Valley.


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The Return of the FLDS Children

Posted by Connor on June 2nd, 2008

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photo credit: Grundy

Various media outlets have been reporting today that Judge Walther (the most recent foe of liberty) has finally signed an order to release the children of the FLDS community to their parents. This after two superior courts knocked down her ruling, essentially saying to the world that this power-hungry woman was dead wrong.

After delaying her consent over the weekend (claiming that she wanted every FLDS mother to sign the order before she would), Walther finally today ordered the release of all children, with one exception. The childrens’ release is not without its caveats, for Walther has stuck her foot in the door of these families’ homes by mandating that the parents comply with the following:

Under the judge’s order, the Department of Family and Protective Services will still have the right to visit and interview the children.

These unannounced visits could entail medical, psychological and psychiatric examinations, and the parents must not intervene.

Also under the order, the parents must attend and complete parenting classes. The families must remain in the state of Texas and notify the department within 48 hours of any trips more than 100 miles from their homes.

As noted above, one child will not be released. The article linked above explains that Walther has claimed in her order that the girl is an “identified victim of sexual abuse.”

If your jaw didn’t drop while reading that line, then perhaps it would help to remember the basis upon which all of the children were removed from their families. The government claimed that there was widespread abuse, inflating its numbers and outright lying about the ages of many of the mothers. While some children were removed because of the future potential for abuse (a fascist notion of justice if there ever was one), many were claimed to have been victims of abuse.

And then there was one…

That’s right: after all of this domestic interventionism, after tearing children apart from their mothers, and after attracting the attention of the world, Walther, like a cowardly dog, has been forced to retreat with her tail between her legs. Since higher courts refused to mandate the childrens’ release, Walther is left the responsibility of doing so, thus allowing her to impose her wishes on continual interference in FLDS family life.

One wonders what these parents will teach their children about the government once they’re reunited. I envision numerous Family Home Evening-like lessons about how evil government is. Sadly, such an assertion is not entirely without merit.

I’m quite happy to hear that the children will soon be returning, but I cannot condone or support any continual monitoring of their lives, as Judge Walther has ordered. Just and proper government exists only to punish actions for which evidence has been obtained, not to continually monitor its citizens and invade their private lives.

Trying to push a soft and palatable response to the Court’s declaration that they messed up big time, Marleigh Meisner, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family Services, showed her adeptness at doublethink when stating that “Our goal is always to try to reunite families. We hope they can be safe there.”

Right.

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13 comments so far. Care to chime in?

Amen.

How did this woman become a judge? How is she still a judge?

#1 Russell Page on June 2nd, 2008

“Our goal is always to try to reunite families.”

Anyone familiar with CPS in Texas and other states can tell you that this is an outright lie.

#2 Josh Williams on June 3rd, 2008

I believe we have just legalized child abuse in this country. It is quite clear that many if not all of these children were sexually abused in one way or another. Forcing a 13 year old girl to have children is still wrong but now it is also legal. Our society has taken another huge step backwards. It is now very clear that Warren Jeffs is innocent of any and all charges against him. Free Warren Jeffs!

#3 mark on June 3rd, 2008

It is quite clear that many if not all of these children were sexually abused in one way or another.

If it is “quite clear”, as you allege, then why did the court ultimately charge that only one girl, out of all that were taken, was actually abused? Your insinuations have no facts upon which to stand.

#4 Connor on June 3rd, 2008

Connor,

Does this mean that as long as these parents have custody of their children, they can never leave Texas?

This sickens me… many of these parents are innocent of wrongdoing. Now they are required by law to never leave the state, merely because of an accusation of wrongdoing?

I certainly hope that my freedoms are never infringed for life merely because I am accused of wrongdoing, without any corroborating evidence or conviction.

Imagine someone being falsely accused of burglary, but was never convicted of the crime because the evidence did not support the charges. Is it justice to place social restrictions on this person merely because the accusation was made?

#5 Jeff T on June 3rd, 2008

Does this mean that as long as these parents have custody of their children, they can never leave Texas?

That’s exactly what the order indicates (unless, of course, they get the government’s permission to go somewhere more than 100 miles, I think it was). Amazing, isn’t it? I consider it a form of slavery to mandate that somebody innocent cannot freely move about the country.

#6 Connor on June 3rd, 2008

Some will suppose us ungrateful for not acknowledging Texas’s moral stature in releasing the children… but who’s to say that this whole escapade was not commenced with this very end in mind (increased government control in the lives of innocent americans)? Who’s to say that, from the beginning, Texas authorities knew they wouldn’t be able to keep the children away, but also knew that any reunion would have stipulations, regardless of the guilt of the parents?

Also, I am told that the one child who was not returned was not returned for fear of contact with a former abuser. Has this former abuser been charged or imprisoned? If so, why not? Why keep the child from her mother, rather than imprison the individual who actually committed a crime?

#7 Jeff T on June 3rd, 2008

I really hope the FLDS start in with the civil cases. I really hope that Walther is disbarred too.

But considering this is Texas, and seeing as how the president doesn’t much care for the Constitution (that he is swears to uphold and protect) it’s not shocking how bad they violated it.

Now why was it again that Utah learned their lesson in the 50’s, that Texas didn’t ask them why they hadn’t proceeded to try it again since?

Also, if no one is being charged with abuse, why are they signing anything? How can that be legal? This is like me being charged with a DUI, then being let go saying I wasn’t drunk, but I’m on probation for 6 months because they pulled me over and thought I was. c’mon!

#8 Helaman on June 5th, 2008

Does this mean that as long as these parents have custody of their children, they can never leave Texas?

Jeff T, If I remember correctly, nobody can leave Texas until after August 31. That’s about a 90-day window for an investigation to remain “open”. I suspect that if a pending investigation isn’t quite finished by that date, there will be an extension by the state to prohibit travel, perhaps for specific people not for the entire group.

And I really wonder why Mr Parker hasn’t filed suit for recovery of all the documents and property seized illegally, and sought a restraining order or cease-and-desist to prohibit state investigators from further inspection or examination of it?

#9 toes on June 8th, 2008

Thanks for the clarification!

#10 Jeff T on June 8th, 2008

It’s is quite interesting that after all the charges against these pedophiles that were made by CPS, NOT ONE home visit has been made to any of these children since their return.

I don’t understand how the State of Texas can KNOW that sexual,
physical and psychological abuse was perpetrated against these poor children, and not try to protect them by at least dropping by now and then for a chat.

Might they KNOW something we don’t?

#11 BILL MEDVECKY on June 19th, 2008

In other words, if they were so sure of it in the first place, why aren’t they following through?

#12 Jeff T on June 19th, 2008

In other words, the “Judge” and CPS knew from the very beginning it was all a pack of dreck!

If you were a CPS worker and you truly believed the stories you’ve read, would you walk away from those children?

Would anybody who had a spec of decency?

#13 BILL MEDVECKY on June 19th, 2008

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