Britt, it isn’t what their religion believes or not, it’s what they practice. Apparently there isn’t much in the way of official teaching on when young people marry and it’s largely left up to individual families. Be that as it may, they have to follow the law of the land where they live.
The Catholic church teaches they will accept marriages with females as young as 12 and males as young as 14… although they’ll recognize marriages of people YOUNGER than these ages if they’ve gone through puberty.
These marriages would clearly not be allowed in the United States. So the Catholic church’s teachings on them is irrelevant. Besides, the Catholic clergy follow the law in the United States ad, indeed, the FLDS clergy are required to do.
We don’t take children away from Catholics because of this Catholic doctrine and we shouldn’t take children away from FLDS parents for it either.
If they practice it and there is evidence to that effect, then regardless of what — if any — faith tradition they hold, the law will be enforced.
You would punish people because of their beliefs, which specifically is not allowed under the U.S. Constitution. Basically, you don’t believe in freedom of Religion, and freedom of thought.
You’re entitled to your view — because of the Constitutional protections you despise.
