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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 INTERVIEW 
5

Ex-FLDS Member Wants Hard Time for Polygamists

Author: Texas hung Eldorado kids out to dry

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(Newser) – Former FLDS member Flora Jessop is “hoping against hope” that the men charged with child abuse at the polygamist compound in Eldorado get harder time than those convicted  in similar crimes elsewhere, she told the Houston Chronicle. “Thirteen days, 45 days, nine months,” says Jessop, rattling off sentences handed down in Arizona and Utah. “Will Texas have the guts to give them more?”

Jessop fled the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after years of sexual abuse, and is now promoting her book Church of Lies. She criticized the government for returning children to the Eldorado compound, saying the men within were lying when they promised to change their ways. “We were taught to lie to the Gentiles,” she said. “Because our laws—God’s laws—were above anything man can say.”

Flora Jessop poses with her truck Friday April 18, 2008 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Flora Jessop poses with her truck Friday April 18, 2008 in Phoenix, Ariz.   (AP Photo/Aaron J. Latham)
Flora Jessop poses for a picture Friday, April 18, 2008 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Flora Jessop poses for a picture Friday, April 18, 2008 in Phoenix, Ariz.   (AP Photo/Aaron J. Latham)
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If they don’t they won’t get to eat for a month, or they’ll have their babies taken away and beaten and abused by the other wife. They’ll be locked in rooms until they get rid of their evil spirits. - Flora Jessop, on why FLDS children will testify in favor of their male "predators"

These children are still left inside a culture that is abusive and violent and deadly to children. - Flora Jessop, on why Texas shouldn't have returned all but one of the FLDS children to their Eldorado compound

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5 comments
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Polaris
Jun 23, 09 1:37 PM CDT
Her cause is a good one, but it's too narrow. She should also be advocating a new law that protects children from any kind of organized religious indoctrination outside their own home. Such a law would be constitutional, because the Constitution refers to the "establishment" of religion -- as in establishing or founding. It certainly doesn't prevent the government from passing laws protecting children from religious brain-washing. By the way, another huge scandal erupted recently, this one in Ireland, about young boys being horribly abused in Catholic schools across that little nation. As usual, the U.S. media largely ignored the story. Reply
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+7
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rajanKazhmin
Jun 23, 09 3:05 PM CDT
The large corporate churches in America are a cancerous tumor on our society that must be removed before it destroys us.
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+2
Observer
Jun 23, 09 4:09 PM CDT
Why have the authorities looked the other way for so long when these Mormon freaks have been flagrantly flaunting the laws against multiple marriages and child rape and abuse. No excuses - kick these people's asses! Reply
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+3
kokuaguy
Jun 23, 09 10:33 PM CDT
It I were to leave a comment it would deal strictly with the quality of the comments here so far... but what's the point.... Reply
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SPH
Jun 23, 09 11:16 PM CDT
You are aware that you are NOT required to comment on each and every article or response you read....
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