Free to abuse?

The United States has historically had a complex relationship with religion. Our courts routinely hear cases about the role it should play in public life, and we are one of the only developed countries in the world with significant church attendance.\nThe past four hundred years of European settlement on this continent have allowed Puritans, Amish, Mormons and utopian-seekers of all stripes to flourish as they never could have under the heavy hand of Catholicism or the Church of England in Europe. While such diversity usually enriches our experience as Americans, one such group, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has recently come under scrutiny for alleged sexual abuse of minors.\nThe sect, which practices polygamy as a way of reaching heaven and broke away from the main Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints nearly 100 years ago, has been known for its isolationist tendencies and otherworldly practices. Members build large white temples at their ranch compounds in remote areas of Arizona, Utah and Texas, avoid using the color red because they believe it is associated with the vestments Jesus will wear on return to Earth and have no qualms with forcing 14-year-old girls into “celestial marriages” with much older men.\nQuite frankly, I am surprised the group’s neighbors in a red state like Texas have been so accepting of their practices. Even now, after 462 children have been taken from the “Yearning for Zion” ranch in an abuse-related custody hearing, Texas authorities are doing their utmost to continue the children’s isolation from mainstream society.\nAlthough children and parents are generally kept separated when parental abuse is suspected, many of the mothers have been allowed to accompany their children these past few weeks as they’ve remained in state custody. Furthermore, the children have been provided with strict, natural-foods-only diets, just as they are used to, and have not been exposed to modern amenities like television.\nI could normally applaud this cultural sensitivity as being emblematic of our nation’s respectful separation of church and state. But no culture should be able to hide behind the Establishment Clause in order to eliminate its children’s contact with anyone outside its own small community. \nOf course, consenting adult women should be allowed to wear prairie dresses and become the third wife of any man they wish. This is a prime example of religious freedom in action. However, depriving children of any real opportunities by pulling them out of public schools and making them sexual slaves upon threat of hellfire is immoral and abusive.\nAs a society, we have a responsibility to ensure that each child is provided with the opportunity to develop his or her individual character. Even when guaranteeing their well-being requires us to make uncomfortable confrontations, we cannot be manipulated by scoundrels to believe that religious freedom sanctions the forcing of a culture of abuse and limitations upon children.