Skip to main content.
Related sites:
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
Web religionnewsblog.com
Home | Site Menu | About RNB | RNB Store | Cult FAQ | Cult Experts | Apologetics Index | Cult Information Search Engine
Polygamy:

Cult fears ignored

Calgary Sun, Canada
Aug. 1, 2004
Mike D'Amour
www.calgarysun.com
  • Article Tools  • Share This Story

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 8104 • Posted: Sunday August 1, 2004  

Click here... More articles on this topic: Polygamy

Decade-old polygamy warnings not acted upon

CRESTON, B.C. — B.C. legislators were warned about the “serious” situation at a polygamous commune more than a decade ago, but so far have not acted on the recommendations of a top secret report obtained by the Sun. The multi-page document was compiled by the Committee on Polygamous Issues, a group comprised of former members of the polygamous community of Bountiful and other interested parties, in the early 1990s and then given to the provincial government.

In it, the report stated: “The situation in the Bountiful group is becoming increasingly serious.”

One reason for concern was a rapidly growing population — at the time there were only about 400 members in the commune but that number has risen to almost 1,000.

The report expressed other concerns including the increasing move by sect members to become even more insulated and isolated from the outside world and patterns of abuse which were becoming more entrenched because social services were not used.

An additional fear at the time was that, according to group teachings, God directs the leaders, and by extension, the lives of all members of the sect.

“It is questionable,” the report said, “whether children raised in the group are ever capable of exercising any freedom of choice.

“Obviously the lack of real choice is particularly poignant when it involves a teenage girl who has known nothing beyond life in the group (and is) placed in marriage with a man several decades her senior who already has a number of wives and children.”

While the people of Bountiful, about 520 km southwest of Calgary, vehemently deny arranged marriages take place, a recently announced provincial investigation will look into the claim.

The special task force, comprised of Mounties, a Crown prosecutor and a social worker, will also look into allegations of sexual abuse on the commune.

The report listed several recommendations in 1992 and called for an inter-ministerial approach to deal with the problem.

Recommendations not acted upon include settling the legal status of polygamy once and for all.

Read the Calgary Sun online

[Keyword: Winston Blackmore]

Religion News Blog RSS feed Subscribe: Religion News Blog RSS feed  |  Religion News Blog RSS feed Subscribe by topic: Polygamy
more cult news articlemore religion news More articles about Polygamy

Like this story?

Today's Most Popular Articles

Doctor Says...

Share this

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:




Article and Site Tools

» PermaLink to: Cult fears ignored
   Need a shorter link? You can remove everything after the final /
» More news articles + news archive on Polygamy
» More religion and cult news

Subscribe (RSS / Email) [What is RSS?]
» RSS News Feed - All Topics: Religion News Blog RSS Feed
» RSS News Feed - Single Topic: Polygamy
» Headlines by Email: Daily Religion News Blog Headlines

More Article Tools
• Bookmark / Tag: Del.icio.us
• Bookmark / Tag: Furl
Save this article
Email this article
Print this article [Temporarily out of order]

More Information
Books about Polygamy
Relevant books (and other goodies)

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.