The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is the largest independent polygamous sect in America. They rule Colorado City and nearby Hilldale, but their leader Warren Jeffs has been arrested. This has made people nervous, afraid, and very aggressive towards outsiders. They should be afraid - they have been involved in some nasty business.

The Economist reports:

The current dispute has to do with two different sets of former FLDS members. The first are the “lost boys”, disillusioned rebellious teenagers who have been ousted from the FLDS and dumped in towns such as Hurricane, Utah. They are the source of many of the accusations against Mr Jeffs. Lawyers in Salt Lake City, working on behalf of the young men, claim that Mr Jeffs forced families to kick them out and cite both emotional and physical abuse.

The second, equally embittered, group are older excommunicated property owners. Rather than moving away and “repenting from afar,” as FLDS leaders insist they should, these refuseniks have stuck around to reclaim their homes. All the homes and chattels of FLDS members belong to a United Effort Plan which holds the property in trust. Now state officials are trying to let former members reclaim “their” homes. [...]

The teacher who revealed the alleged misuse of school funds wound up with his windows smashed. A couple who spoke to a television station last year had rubbish thrown on their driveway. Ousted children quiver before journalists lest their parents, who are still members, are punished.

Dissidents are fighting hard for their rights in the community — rights which have been denied them because of their status as religious outsiders. In other words, they have become political outsiders simply because they are also religious outsiders. This is the sort of situation which the separation of church and states is supposed to help prevent: a person's status in the political community should be completely independent of any status they have in any religious community.

Religious authorities should have no impact on civil matters because their religious judgment is irrelevant to politics — or it should be, at least. We are seeing in Colorado City what happens when that principle isn't adhered to.

 

Quick Poll: Should polygamy be legalized?

1. Yes, even if it oppresses women
2. Yes, but only if there are safeguard to protect women
3. No. Polygamy is immoral and sinful. It violates God's plan for marriage
4. No. Women need to be protected from the oppressive systems that promote polygamy
5. I don't know
6. I don't care

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Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Secularism 101