| Meeting focuses on issues within polygamous towns | |
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By Rachel Olsen The Spectrum | |
ST. GEORGE - In a public meeting Thursday, authorities and residents attempted to educate one another about a wide range of viewpoints on topics like welfare fraud, child abuse and domestic violence in polygamous communities. Moderator Cliff Donovan quickly pointed out in the meeting that abuse exists in every society and subculture. However, organizers attempted to devote the two hours Thursday to a discussion about abuses in the specific culture, in the effort to make progress within the typically closed communities. Meeting participants had a variety of sentiments regarding the benefit of the meeting - from calling the meeting a start to saying it was all a lot of lip service on the part of government officials. The meeting included mentions of specific abuse cases and defenses of the principle of polygamy. "I'm always glad to be in a diverse group (of opinions)," said Ann Wright, a member of a Centennial Park group that practices polygamy. Although Wright said she and those with her looked at issues of polygamy from a religious standpoint, they too did not want underage marriages or the abuse of families and children. "(Government) did as much as they could in a meeting like this. It can be hard in a group of strong feelings," Wright said. But Flora Jessop, an activist who works to remove children from the abuses associated with polygamy, said the meeting accomplished nothing. "It is an attempt to whitewash what they've done," Jessop said after the meeting. In the meeting, government officials, including Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, discussed the progress and steps the respective states had taken toward making resources available, as well as going after perpetrators of abuse. Shurtleff specifically said Utah would not tolerate abuse, domestic violence or any other crime. The state, he said, would prosecute anyone breaking laws regardless of religion. However, April Clark, a Dixie State College student, stood up and challenged that statement. She said she understood polygamy to be against the law. Recognizing the question as an important one, Shurtleff posed another question to the audience, "How many of you want us to arrest every polygamist in this state?" Although a few hands rose, Shurtleff expressed his office's frustration with a lack of resources in going after every single practicing polygamist. Trust was another issue talked about during the meeting - a lack of trust between those in the polygamist communities and government officials. A week before the meeting, Linda Kelsch, community actions director with Principle Voices of Polygamy, an advocacy group for polygamous families, addressed that issue, expressing sentiments echoed by some polygamists in Thursday's meeting. Kelsch said if bigamy were reduced from a felony crime or legalized, people in the communities would be more apt to approach those outside their culture. Shurtleff said to do that, supporters of polygamy would need to go to the Legislature. The meeting produced at least a start to eradicating abuses, said Neil Glauser. Glauser, along with his wife, Stacha, are currently trying to help a boy who was thrown out of the secluded communities, one of the so called "Lost Boys." Stacha Glauser brought the issue of social security fraud to the attention of the Attorney General. Shurtleff said in order to prosecute criminals they need evidence and victims. | |
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TheSpectrum.com Originally published March 4, 2005 | |
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