Kids Taken From N.M. Religious Compound

Group Leader Claims To Be The Messiah, Says His Children Were "Kidnapped" Because "Some Demon" Reached Out To Authorities

(AP)  State police have removed three children from an apocalyptic church whose leader claims to be the Messiah and acknowledges having sex with some of his followers.

The two girls and one boy - all under the age of 18 - were taken from the northeastern New Mexico compound following an April 22 investigation, Romaine Serna, spokeswoman for the state Children, Youth and Families Department, said Wednesday.

She said a fourth child, a girl, agreed to be interviewed by the department. Serna said that girl had been at the compound but now lives elsewhere with her parents.

The three children were taken into state custody because of allegations of inappropriate contact between minors and the adult leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, Serna said.

"I understand that it was very calm and they (state police) did not meet with any resistance," she said. Serna said she wasn't aware of any other youths at the compound.

Serna declined to elaborate because of the ongoing investigation by state police and the district attorney's office. No charges had been filed, she said. The church has at least 70 members, Serna said.

Wayne Bent, 66, who is known in the church as Michael Travesser, established the church at a rural site called Strong City, north of Clayton in extreme northeastern New Mexico. He said God anointed him Messiah in July 2000.

"There was never any child molestation, or adult molestation by anyone, including myself," Bent wrote in a posting Wednesday on the church's Web site. "There has never been 'sex with minors' or anything remotely approaching that."

Bent, on an April 27 posting on the Web site, accused the state of kidnapping the children. "My children are kidnapped because some demon wrote a letter to people in authority accusing me of some crimes," he wrote.

"When the state came against our children (seed), the state came against God, and this will NOT ever be forgiven them," he wrote.

In a lengthy discussion dated Sept. 11, 2007, Bent said his work is finished and he does not expect to be "in the earthly sphere" much longer.

He acknowledged having sex with three women - the wives of two of his followers and his daughter in law. He said it was at the direction of God and the instigation of the women.

Jeff Bent, who Serna said is Wayne Bent's son, denied in an April 29 letter to Gov. Bill Richardson and posted on the Web site that any child had been abused or neglected at Strong City.

The group educates its children "to avoid the slavery you seek to impose on them, and to experience the freedom they have in God," Jeff Bent wrote.

"We have given everything to prepare them for an eternity with God. We haven't oppressed them with your atheistic globalist curriculum, socialist indoctrination, and 'alternative lifestyles' dogma that comprise modern public education. We have taught them higher values than the values of your slave-state, and have sought to shield them from the abuse that is institutionalized in your system," he wrote.

Jeff Bent also wrote to Richardson: "Now that you have moved against us because of our faith, the cup of God's anger is full to the brim, and now He is free to move against you."

Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for Richardson, declined comment on the letter.

Serna said two of the children removed from the ranch were placed in foster homes, and one accepted voluntary placement, which usually means with a friend or relative.

Serna said her agency received information on April 21 that warranted the removal of the children. She declined to reveal the information or its source.

The New Mexico removal came three weeks after Texas officials raided a polygamist-sect ranch and took custody of 463 children, saying that group's practice of underage and polygamous spiritual marriages endangered the children.

[bcjtdoutre]

I think it is really sad that they have taken all the children. I know it needs to be done be cause it is sad that some one could abuse children. but why punish the children. I think the law has taken this all the wrong way. why didn''t they arrest the adults. Why dont they take them to jail and then see if its true. It the adults that have broke the law not the children.

Many years ago the government came and arrested the men that and many wifes. It is against the law to be married to two or more wifes. Why did they let it continue. Why didn''t the law take action sooner? and why did the law have to wait tell there was abuse?

[michellem99-2009]

MCVet,any ideas. The foster homes is out..I know that life.

[cfin5]

Jesus also said in Matthew 24:23-27,......Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

[cfin5]

Wayne Bent is a liar. Jesus said that there would be dudes doing this stuff a lot in the last days....Matthew 24:3-9,.......And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my names sake......(cont.)

[shavshu]

b-easy63 -

I appreciate your concern for the children of the FLDS group, but you''re in error when you call them "mormon children." The FLDS group has not had an association with the Mormon church for well over a century and have radically different beliefs and practices. They call themselves "fundamentalists" but they are a completely different religion.

[vet999999]

I have really had it with this religious ***. jews vs muslems, protestants vs cathlics, institutionalized child molestation and murder rings. Enough is enough.

[locke10]

I knew they''d catch up to singinrick one day......

posted by veteran72


That has to be the funniest thing I''ve read today.

[mcvet]

how can this possibly be good for the children? why not just complete the investigation and THEN act on the findings without all the inaccurate information and false accusations?

the findings are not for public entertainment; they are for the use of the courts in deciding how best to protect the children.

ever thought of THAT?


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Posted by cpaide at 12:24 AM : May 01, 2008
+ report abuse

Religion has become a Corporate Business in this nation that''s a fact. In their constant persuit of Money they play on and scare the daylights out of the weekest most mentally challenged amoung us. The results are what we have been seeing in Texas and now here. Covering it up or hiding it will help NO ONE and will only delay the fight against the American Taliban. Sieg Heil and Amen

[nonayabiness]

I think it would be a good investment of my tax dollars to have all these ''ranches and compounds'' investigated, to stop the abuse against women and especially, the children. To purposefully sin ''in the name of God'' seems worse to me than committing sin just because one doesn''t care. Basically, its like they ''blame God'' for their sins.

The first person/people who did this, were probably just simply crazy. The rest of those who try to use this excuse are just copycats with sexual disorders, thinking it will seem less sinful if they announce they are committing these sins in the ''name of God.''

What a terrible disgrace!

[nonayabiness]

Why is it that these types seem to tend to abuse children and women with sexual activities ''In the name of God?'' Is this how they try to ''excuse'' what they do? They are some of the biggest sinners of all, committing crimes against children in the ''name of God.''

[michellem99-2009]

gramma Dear Amen..we have to nip this..I am for people who worship as they see fit to God Allmighty but not to abuse children/others in His Name. I can''t/won''t buy it. Peace of Christ,Barbara

[grammawhamma]

The line between government interference and religious freedom needs to be drawn when laws are broken. And the law needs to prevail.

Do you religious "fanatics" really believe that God is telling men to rape young girls and beat up and cast out the young boys? Do you really believe that a woman who claims she hears God talking to her and kills her child because the devil is dwelling in that child should get away with it in the name of God?

I''m angry because where I live a family just let their 11 year old daughter die of untreated type I diabetes...because they were brainwashed by an on-line cult to pray for her instead of seeking medical treatment for a very treatable disease. Now that they are going to be charged with homicide...they hire a big shot lawyer. Hmmmm...why don''t they just pray for the judge to find them innocent!?

BTW I do believe in God.

[b-easy63]

here''''s a thought: if all the information relating to the mormon children in texas is supposed to be confidential to protect the children, why is the Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner, Carey Cockerell, allowing all this "confidential" information to be leaked to the press?

how can this possibly be good for the children? why not just complete the investigation and THEN act on the findings without all the inaccurate information and false accusations?

the findings are not for public entertainment; they are for the use of the courts in deciding how best to protect the children.

ever thought of THAT?

Posted by cpaide at 12:24 AM : May 01, 2008

It''s obvious: it is to try the case in the court of public opinion like most political stunts. The problem is trying a case that way does not mean the information leaked is false. So for the case of the church with a bed in the temple and lots of pregnant girls with only old men near by--that is an issue--the leaking is unfortunate and should be illegal--but as long as they don''t name names--they will probably get away with this--one of the unfortunate fall outs from allowing any politician or party get away with smears, leaks, etc--soon, the entire process is corrupted.

[b-easy63]

God NOT forgive? Thats new.

Posted by Ricette at 08:18 PM : Apr 30, 2008


The bible mentions in the NT one sin that is unforgiveable. Never to be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come--that is the blaspheming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it.

[b-easy63]

"We haven''t oppressed them with your atheistic globalist curriculum, socialist indoctrination, and ''alternative lifestyles'' dogma that comprise modern public education. We have taught them higher values than the values of your slave-state, and have sought to shield them from the abuse that is institutionalized in your system," he wrote. "

Yep. like fvcking his son''s wife and the wives of his followers. Why do these new interpretations of scripture always center around men getting as much hooch as they can and "it" being the will of god?

[veteran72]

I knew they''d catch up with singinrick one day......

[cpaide]

"Serna declined to elaborate because of the ongoing investigation"

exactly. that''s what is supposed to happen in cases involving minors: no premature comment to the press.

here''s a thought: if all the information relating to the mormon children in texas is supposed to be confidential to protect the children, why is the Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner, Carey Cockerell, allowing all this "confidential" information to be leaked to the press?

how can this possibly be good for the children? why not just complete the investigation and THEN act on the findings without all the inaccurate information and false accusations?

the findings are not for public entertainment; they are for the use of the courts in deciding how best to protect the children.

ever thought of THAT?

[truthalways]

why haven''t they arrested this *** yet???It''s a shame that these cult leaders always get away...and they don''t get arrested!!!

[kansas1946]

How many cults are there in the US. Anybody have a guess.


Ill tell you how many, according to atheist, we all are. Well there is only one truth and in the end we will all know just what that truth is. Cant wait, how bout you?


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Posted by onlythereal at 09:10 PM : Apr 30, 2008
********************************

LOL. Good point about atheists thinking they all are. One day at lunch someone posed the question about what constitutes a cult and the popular answer was, any religion different from your own. That probably sums it up pretty well. Almost every religion or sect in the world was at one time considered a cult until it became wide spread and acceptable. The ONLY problem I see with freedom of religion in our country is a lot of folks take advatage of it and the government is loath to interfere with religious practices because of the constitutional protection. I guess there will always be scum-bags that take advantage of anything they can get by with. Unfortunate, but that is the human condidtion.

[peacedreamer-2009]

Children need to be protected from abuse, even abuse disguised as religion. It''s sad how often grown men use religion as an excuse to commit abominations!