Polygamy's Rape of Rachael Strong: Protected Environment for Predators
Plural marriage and its religious concepts are an important part of Utah’s past and present history. From federal government pressure to cease the practice in the late 1800s to present-day state government efforts to be friendly to those who still practice it, a story rich with controversy develops.The issue involves those polygamists and their wives who sincerely believe they are following God’s commandment to replenish the earth, as opposed to predators who use the same commandment to justify heinous acts of abuse.Independent polygamists and their families live quietly in mainstream society and group polygamists live either in society or within a specified geographical area. Each polygamist group has a male leader considered by its members to be the one true “prophet” on the earth and they believe he is fully justified by God in setting the laws by which the group operates.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints focuses on helping its members build strong and secure families, and it excommunicates members found to be practicing polygamy. But because it was the federal government that forced the Church to stop the practice, and because the Church scriptures still contain the commandment, and because members expect to practice plural marriage in heaven, they still hold the belief of plural marriage as holy. And many members have ancestors who practiced plural marriage. All this creates mixed feelings among the populace about what the government should do to those who practice polygamy today.To add to the complexity, Freedom of Religion legal issues are also at play, and a polygamy case presently at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals is headed for the Supreme Court, and will arrive about the same time as one on same sex marriage.Many believe that the State of Utah is already implementing practices that will in effect decriminalize polygamy. State officials say it is to stem the abuse by opening the doors to polygamists so they no longer need fear government and will seek help. It may also be that they want to be prepared for whatever the Supreme Court will ultimately decide.A new controversy has developed as a result. Many escaping victims needing help from polygamy abuse feel betrayed by the new actions of the state government, because their needs are being downplayed so the still-practicing polygamists won’t be embarrassed or offended.The new state Safety Net program presently has meetings where both groups are expected to attend together – side by side – abuse victims and pro-polygamists. It seems the government does not understand the intimidation, powerlessness, and subserviency these victims battle against.The only advocate devoted specifically to helping physically and emotionally damaged women leaving polygamy is non-profit Tapestry Against Polygamy.