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Court documents released show Texas officials raided an isolated polygamist compound in West Texas after tips that girls as young as 13 were being forced to enter into "spiritual marriages," have sex and bear children.
CNN reports the information came from a 16-year-old girl who called a family violence hot line March 29, "expressing the need to leave her current living situation," according to the affidavit.
The teen bride said she was in an abusive "spiritual" marriage to an older sect member, the documents stated. She reported that she was the man's seventh wife and had been beaten and choked.
Linda Lowen writes, "...But because of the girl in the white dress - and others like her - growing into girlhood, into young womanhood, still years away from her blossoming adolescence and still shining in her innocence and faith that the adults who care for her will do right by her. She may be polygamy's child. But thanks to the events of the past few days, chances are good that she will not grow up to be polygamy's wife...or mother."
In the Pink Texas says, "The children and many of their mothers were removed from the Yearn for Zion Ranch after CPS received a call from a 16-year-old girl claiming there was sexual abuse within the sect. Well, you know, when 13-year-olds are married off, you’ve just got to be a little suspicious. The dirty old men remain inside the compound pending further investigation. The women, however, are being treated like victims. What kind of mother lets some 50-year-old man screw her underage daughter?"
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The Associated Press reports American Airlines said it was canceling up to 500 flights, potentially more than one-fifth of its schedule, to check the bundling of wires in some planes, the same issue that caused the airline to scrap more than 400 flights last month.
American, the nation's largest carrier, said the cancellations could spill into Wednesday and beyond. The airline said the Federal Aviation Administration raised more concerns about the recent inspections of the wiring in its approximately 300 MD-80 aircraft.
Nancy Parode writes, "Inspections could continue through Thursday; if you are flying American Airlines soon, it's a good idea to check your flight status."
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Contributing Editor Erin Kotecki Vest also blogs at Queen of Spain Blog.
