Polygamy? I’m awaiting answers, senator
 
By Al Herron
Prescott Daily Courier Columnist
Al Herron

Thanks to Sen. Ken Bennett for replying to my requests for information about the polygamy problem in Northern Arizona. It wasn’t what I hoped to hear, but at least it was a reply.

I had asked why polygamy is growing so rapidly in Colorado City (probably 10,000 polygamists in that area) while our state Constitution says "polygamy shall be forever prohibited within this state." And what is the Legislature contemplating about the welfare fraud and school fraud in Colorado City? And what about the old rumor that Mormon legislators in Arizona have ignored all this because they’re basically sympathetic to polygamist doctrine and lifestyle? (Some legislators are descendants of polygamists, so perhaps that’s understandable.)

But instead of answering these questions, Sen. Bennett attacked me for being a bigot, "morally outrageous," and "the pride of Archie Bunker." This type of response seems to be standard.

Honest criticism is OK, but I reject having anyone call me a bigot.

Bigotry is disparaging people because they belong to a certain race or faith. But someone can criticize Michael Jackson without being bigoted toward blacks, or criticize pedophile priests without being bigoted toward Catholics. Similarly, I have questioned the activities of some LDS legislators – only questioned, not criticized. And nowhere, in any of my columns, have I disparaged the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I did belittle the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its polygamy and fraud, but Bennett says that he "personally opposes polygamy" also.

(Incidentally, if my shorthand use of "polygamous Mormons" and "mainstream Mormons" is offensive, please tell me what to use. This newspaper has a limit on words, and those long names won’t get in very often.)

The senator took me to task for giving an incorrect list of the Mormons in key positions in the Legislature – which he obviously knows much better than I do. My source is knowledgeable, but said that he wasn’t certain about one or two, so I apologize for whatever the error was.

Please give me the corrections, senator, and I’ll get them into the Courier. Just the officers of the Senate and House and the key committee chairmen – "the leadership" – where I said that nine are LDS. A message from your secretary would be fine: 771-8517 or aherron@cableone.net.

He also criticized me for using the trite expression, "some of my best friends are Mormons," but I never said that. Some of our family are Mormons, but none of my best friends are. They wouldn’t have me.

Sen. Bennett stated that bigamy and sex with a minor are illegal in Arizona; therefore, I was wrong in saying that we have no laws against polygamy. That’s obfuscation – he’s trying to hide the truth.

Bigamy is getting legally married more than once without a divorce in between. Polygamy is different. The first time a man gets married by the prophet it is a legal marriage. The ones after that, performed by the same prophet, are called spiritual marriages. And spiritual marriage is not bigamy in Arizona! Having five wives and 40 kids is perfectly legal the polygamist way, and then the state helps support them.

Why? Because our Legislature has never enacted the right laws.

Why not? Your guess is as good as mine.

Bennett wondered why I picked on him for these questions. It’s simple. He’s the senator from our district – the one we look to for answers – and as Presi-dent of the Senate he’s in a position to know the answers.

The questions won’t go away as long as polygamy continues and the Legislature either ignores it or just fumbles around with it.

Merry Christmas.
 
prescottaz.com
Originally published Sunday, December 21, 2003
 
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