Justice Dept. sues Ariz., Utah polygamous towns

Hildale, Utah sits at the base of red rock cliff mountains with its sister city, Colorado City, Ariz. / AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac

(AP) SALT LAKE CITY - The U.S. Justice Department has sued two polygamous towns along the Utah-Arizona border, claiming religious discrimination against non-sect members.

The federal civil rights lawsuit was filed Thursday against the towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

Most residents in both towns are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, run by the group's jailed leader Warren Jeffs.

Jeffs is serving a life sentence in Texas after convictions on child sex and bigamy charges, but he is said to still maintain control of the FLDS communities.

The lawsuit comes after Legislatures in Utah and Arizona failed to pass bills to abolish the local police department for the communities.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne has argued the officers flout the law in favor of FLDS policies.

[ammo17]

men marrying men women marrying women,that is alright but people practice their religion of consensual religious beliefs are prosecuted.if anyone in the sect is complaining or being abused the justice dept. should step in otherwise lets find out about this fast and furious debacle.

[joe1022joe]

I wonder that the US Justice Department doesn't have enough actual crime to pursue that they can allocate resources to something like this.

[one4gipper]

You libtard hypocrites abide Barney Frank but condemn polygamy? Unbelievable!

[simpleguy234]

None of this makes a darn bit of sense. Who cares if they want to practice polygamy? Just because some are polygamists doesn't mean they all are child rapist! Just as much as all Muslims aren't terrorists! If people choose to do it, let 'em. As long as it doesn't affect or harm others, whats the big deal? What ever happened to freedom? BTW Im not a muslim or a polygamist, and I dont plan on being either, but its not my job to tell others what they can or cant believe. And the gov't needs to STAY OUT OF THAT.

[retiredgustav]

Just like gay marriages.

[tryhonesty]

A start. This CRAP has been going on for years! The Legislatures of both States continue to bury their collective heads in the sand, because many of these politicians are related to these MORONS. They ALL need a swift kick in the rear!

[RepublicansRFiscalLibs]

by smittyc June 21, 2012 11:23 PM EDT
AFter listening to Mrs. Romney who had his five children I don't share your thoughts. The behavior describe in the article, polygamy, degrades the fairer sex,

----

As long as it's not incest, which dilutes the gene pool (although, what the hell, I really don't care), I don't see why there is public objection to polygamy.

It's a lifestyle choice - much in the way of being single is. Maybe you want to love a bunch of people... if you want to handle the drama, more power to ya!

.

[smittyc]

Pretty scary. Sorry to read this nonsense going on.

[RepublicansRFiscalLibs]

Which part?

[liberalmike]

Warren Jeffs is a good friend of Romney's.
These mormons are a strange bunch indeed.
Think about that when it comes time to vote for president!

[RepublicansRFiscalLibs]

by jt92202 BTW I am not a Morman but I have studied the religion and I have no problem with it and even if I did read your Constitution and see where it says that we have the RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION!!!

________

The law regularly regulates religion:

Catholics can't protect criminal priests even if they want to.

Muslims can't carry out an honor killing even if they want to.

Mormons cannot marry several wives, even if they want to.

Jews cannot kill non-believers, no matter the bible's instructions.

[myoleman]

The kind of stuff that these Mormon people do are just shockingly unbelievable. They openly practice pedophilia, bigamy, wife-enslavement, wife-swapping, sodomy on very young boys. This leader is serving time for some of these charges, other convictions have been overturned in Utah for mere formalities. The list goes on and on. It's like they go out of their way to practice every single abomination condemned by the Bible.
BY THEIR FRUITS THOU SHALL KNOW THEM.

[diamruby]

You are so right, & the law in Utah, Arizona, Colorado & Idaho allow them to live unharmed while practicing their incest, witchcraft religion, raping & abusing babies, children & women, in the name of their evil, fairy tale "GOD"!!!! Freedom from religion is what our law & government officials need to enforce & free the children from their evil, brainwashed parents. If adults wish to engage in multiple adult sex partners it is fine as long as they are all sterilized, of course then they couldn't produce offspring to abuse!!! And do not believe for a minute that the Mormon church does not practice or believe in polyogamy, it does, but must pretend not to so that they get their free govenment welfare tax free status!!!