The Trampling of Rights

The events in Texas the last few weeks with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has made me think a lot about the rights of our citizens and the function of our government. While there is absolutely no conceivable reason to force a 12 year old girl to marry a 50 year old man (or any man for that reason), is it the right of people to do so?

Many of these women and children had never been outside the walls of their compound. Do they know what rights they have? In many ways, these women and children were really indentured servants. Why did these mothers not object to forced marriages of their young daughters? Personally, I do not see how a father could let this happen to his daughter unless there was some serious wiring problems between his ears.

But given our penchant for freedom, particularly religious freedom, was it right for the government to storm this compound and take these children away from their mothers? I have a hard time believing the foster care administered by the State is any better for these sheltered children. Government should not be directing the affairs as it relates to the welfare of these kids, their mothers should.

"No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him." --Thomas Jefferson

So the actions taken by the local authorities and the FBI seem to be wrong to me. Why were the men not taken into custody for breaking the law? There are laws against marrying girls under the age of 16. Certainly sexual relations with a girl under 16 is a crime. Instead, the women and children seem to be the ones getting punished in this case. They are the victims of the crime.

It is hard for me to understand what should be done here though. We should respect the difference people have in their religious practices, even when it contradicts our own beliefs. Our country was founded on that principle and in this case the law may have crossed the line.

I do not in any way support the action of the FCJCLDS church, but as an American I have to believe these people have a right to to practice the religion of their choice. This right is guranteed in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.