Suffer the little children . . .

This is yet more proof that fundamentalism in any form is a bad thing. And once again children are the victims of adults who imprisoned them and used religion to instill fear in order to keep these kids silent victims of horrible abuse. Can't leave the compound, can't watch television, can't have interaction of any kind with the outside world . . . but sex with old men is ok and justified with religious doctrine.
Sick . . . and sad, very sad.

Polygamist sect encouraged fear

SAN ANGELO, Texas - All their lives, the girls in the polygamist sect in the West Texas desert were told that the outside world was hostile and immoral, and that venturing beyond the brilliant white limestone walls of their compound would consign them to eternal damnation.

Now, if the state gets its way, hundreds of the girls could be put in foster homes, in what could be a wrenching cultural adjustment that may require intensive counseling.

"What they are up against is having to deprogram an entire community," said Margaret Cooke, who left the sect with seven of her eight children near the end of 1994. The children "are so naive and they have been sheltered to the point that they don't even trust their own judgment."

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