Caretakers get hints on handling children seized in Texas

“We've been working very closely with Child Protective Services in trying to understand and be aware of whatever unique circumstances these children came out of and what they are used to”

Ruth, 31, a mother of four children, left rear, becomes emotional as Velvet, 31, right, a mother of one child whose children are all in state custody tell reporters during a news conference of how they were ... via The Macon Telegraph

[kar]

Just saw "dateline" Sunday 7pm. I'm a Catholic; don't believe in FLDS nor polygymy. But I believe that the children shouldn't have been taken from their mothers. It is deplorable and heartbreaking and if I knew what I could do to help them be reunited I would do it. Give all the poor bewildered children back!!! Shame on the Texas legal system.

[MDH]

Okay, I get the concept that underage girls should not be married off to older men, but I can't help but notice a deplorable double standard going on here. According to Texas and the press it is not okay to be married and have children at 13 - 18 years of age and the state can take those children because the mother's were married to young. However, it is okay in all 50 US states to be unmarried and have children at the age of 13 - 18 years. Not only will the state in those circumstances leave the babies with underage mothers the state (tax payers) will foot the bill. Don't believe me? Take a walk through your local public Jr. High and High School and look for expectant mothers among the student body! Shame on us all - we support underage motherhood only if it involves unmarried teenage mothers who accidentaly got pregnant and let them keep the kids they never wanted to have while we take the babies of married teenage mothers who wanted the children they created and had a husband (albeit shared) who wanted to be the fathers! How messed up is that? Why doesn't Texas defend the children of ALL teenage parents?

[kar]

MDH wrote:

Okay, I get the concept that underage girls should not be married off to older men, but I can't help but notice a deplorable double standard going on here. According to Texas and the press it is not okay to be married and have children at 13 - 18 years of age and the state can take those children because the mother's were married to young. However, it is okay in all 50 US states to be unmarried and have children at the age of 13 - 18 years. Not only will the state in those circumstances leave the babies with underage mothers the state (tax payers) will foot the bill. Don't believe me? Take a walk through your local public Jr. High and High School and look for expectant mothers among the student body! Shame on us all - we support underage motherhood only if it involves unmarried teenage mothers who accidentaly got pregnant and let them keep the kids they never wanted to have while we take the babies of married teenage mothers who wanted the children they created and had a husband (albeit shared) who wanted to be the fathers! How messed up is that? Why doesn't Texas defend the children of ALL teenage parents?

Well said!!!

[dragongfly]

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!! is all I have to say. Poor mothers, they are the ones allowing their own minor children to be raped by these sick men. What part of guilty by association do you not understand. Not to mention that they are not providing for the protectiion of their children. Not only are abusers the cause of this but those allowing it to happen are part of the problem as well. Not only in this sect but all over the world. The State of Texas, Child Protective Services needs to make sure that these mothers will provide proper protection of their children before the children can be returned. The investigation goes through several parts and removal of the children is the first part. There are many legal stages that go with protecting these children and they cannot be returned until their safety is given 1st priority. Whether that is to return the children to their mother or to place the children for adoption. I worked at the Texas Child Protective Services department for a yr and a half. The state works very well with training both mothers and fathers to regain custody of their children. And applause to the State of Texas for taking up arms against this case so quickly. With over 400 children in custody from the ranch that is an overwhelming number of children to care for. And just know that each and every children has an ad-litem (attorney) to care for the best interest of that child.

God bless TEXAS!!

[MLF]

It's NOT okay to be married at 13-18 for boys or girls and its NOT okay to have children (married or not) at 13-18, in any state. These girls are being brainwashed to marry and have children at a young age. GIRLS having children at this young age is terrible no matter where they are. Look at the physical aspect - while a 13-18 year old body may have matured enough to produce a baby, the female body is still not done growing until at least 18 years old - which is a hazard to mother and child. Outside of FLDS girls & boys have the opportunity to learn about sex and marriage and society, inside FLDS they are taught only one way and the mothers have only been taught one way - lots of childen at a young age and sister wives. If you leave the children with their mothers then the mothers will continue to teach them the same thing - married to a 50 year old man as his 10th wife at the age of 14 is O.K.

[Lisa]

MDH wrote:

Okay, I get the concept that underage girls should not be married off to older men, but I can't help but notice a deplorable double standard going on here. According to Texas and the press it is not okay to be married and have children at 13 - 18 years of age and the state can take those children because the mother's were married to young. However, it is okay in all 50 US states to be unmarried and have children at the age of 13 - 18 years. Not only will the state in those circumstances leave the babies with underage mothers the state (tax payers) will foot the bill. Don't believe me? Take a walk through your local public Jr. High and High School and look for expectant mothers among the student body! Shame on us all - we support underage motherhood only if it involves unmarried teenage mothers who accidentaly got pregnant and let them keep the kids they never wanted to have while we take the babies of married teenage mothers who wanted the children they created and had a husband (albeit shared) who wanted to be the fathers! How messed up is that? Why doesn't Texas defend the children of ALL teenage parents?

Yeah, but If a girl gets prengant by a man 18 or older there are laws, if they enforce it or not I don't know.