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New Appeal Filed By FLDS Mothers In Attempt To Regain Custody of Children

By Howard Friedman

On Wednesday, attorneys for 38 mothers of children taken from the FLDS Ranch in Eldorado, Texas filed an an Amended Petition for Writ of Mandamus (full text) with a Texas state appellate court seeking return of their children. The case is captioned In re Sara Steed, et. al. (TX 3d Ct. App.). The new petition argues that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to return the children to their mothers and in denying them visitation rights.

Today's Ft. Worth Star Telegram says the petition argues that the children should not have been removed from their mothers without evidence the mothers pose an immediate physical danger to the children. It alleges that mere fear of a dangerous culture or mindset is insufficient to justify removal. Yesterday's Deseret News reports the petition suggests that the mothers and children could be ordered to live together off the FLDS compound while the state is investigating. Since the FLDS men are the alleged abusers, they could be ordered off the YFZ Ranch or protective orders barring the men from contact with the women and children could be issued. (See prior related posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 02, 2008 (boomark / email).