Religion Roundup
Girl from Polygamous Church Ordered into State Care
Associated Press
August 20, 2008
SAN ANGELO, Texas - A 14-year-old girl who was allegedly married to jailed polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs with her parents' blessing at age 12 has been ordered back into foster care by a Texas judge.
District Judge Barbara Walther said there is "uncontroverted evidence of the underage marriage" and that the girl's mother, Barbara Jessop, refused to guarantee the girl's safety.
An April raid on the ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints resulted in 440 children being placed in foster care. The Texas Supreme Court later struck down that custody decision, saying the state failed to show that any more than a handful of girls might have been abused.
Lawyers reached settlements Tuesday allowing five other girls to stay with their mothers, provided that the women restrict contact with men accused of being involved in underage marriages.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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