But then, of course we already knew this

[CatWoman]

Texas report: Kids in sect suffered neglect, abuse

SAN ANTONIO — A dozen girls were sexually abused at a polygamist group's ranch targeted in a high-profile raid last spring, and parents neglected more than 250 other children living there by doing nothing to protect them from becoming future victims, Texas child welfare officials said in a report released Tuesday.

The Department of Family and Protective Services concluded there was evidence that 12 girls, ages 12 to 15, were "spiritually" married to adult men in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which runs the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado. Seven of them had one or more children, the report says.

Another 262 children were listed as neglected because the agency said their parents knew there was sexual abuse in the household but did not move to protect their children from possible abuse.

The report, which summarizes the investigations done on all 439 children at the West Texas ranch, was issued at the request of the Health and Human Services executive commissioner, a gubernatorial appointee who oversees the protective services agency.

"The Yearning for Zion case is about sexual abuse of girls and children who were taught that underage marriages are a way of life. It is about parents who condoned illegal underage marriages and adults who failed to protect young girls _ it has never been about religion," the agency said.

The report, an unusual step taken to help satisfy expected questions from the state Legislature when it convenes in January, summarized individual investigations and the history of the case. The findings, though shared with law enforcement, are separate from ongoing criminal cases.

All the children from the ranch were placed in foster care in April after authorities raided it in response to calls to a domestic abuse hot line. Those calls are being investigated as a hoax, though a dozen FLDS men now face charges including sexual abuse and bigamy based on documents and evidence seized at the ranch.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20081223/polygamist-retreat/

[atreides1]

1. Not Really

People suspected that this was happening, now the release of this report confirms those suspicions!

Saying that "we knew" is kind of like the whole WMD's in Iraq thing.

Now, maybe the authorities can go in and arrest those responsible and place the children into protective custody until the criminal cases have been rersolved.

[CatWoman]

2. Atreides

Saying that "we knew" is kind of like the whole WMD's in Iraq thing.


I beg to differ.