This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7426814.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Court win for Texas sect parents | Court win for Texas sect parents |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Supreme Court in the US state of Texas has ruled children taken from the ranch of a polygamist sect must be returned to their parents. | The Supreme Court in the US state of Texas has ruled children taken from the ranch of a polygamist sect must be returned to their parents. |
| Officials raided the compound in April, saying young girls were being forced into marriage and sex. The children were placed into foster care. | Officials raided the compound in April, saying young girls were being forced into marriage and sex. The children were placed into foster care. |
| The court said child welfare officials had overstepped their authority. | The court said child welfare officials had overstepped their authority. |
| It said that it had not been proven some 460 children taken from the ranch were in immediate danger. | |
| The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had denied abuse and said it was being persecuted. | |
| Confusion | |
| In its ruling, the Supreme Court affirmed a decision by an appeals court last week. | In its ruling, the Supreme Court affirmed a decision by an appeals court last week. |
| "We are not inclined to disturb the court of appeals' decision. On the record before us, removal of the children was not warranted," it said. | |
| Under Texan law, children can be taken from their parents if there is a danger to their physical safety, an urgent need for protection and if officials made a reasonable effort to keep the children in their homes. | |
| The appeals court ordered the return of the children to their parents - but it is unclear when that will happen. | The appeals court ordered the return of the children to their parents - but it is unclear when that will happen. |
| Correspondents say the case, which began with a raid on 3 April, has been marked by confusion. | Correspondents say the case, which began with a raid on 3 April, has been marked by confusion. |
| So far, 168 mothers and 69 fathers of the children have been identified - reflecting the polygamist practices of the sect - the Associated Press news agency reports. | So far, 168 mothers and 69 fathers of the children have been identified - reflecting the polygamist practices of the sect - the Associated Press news agency reports. |
| More than 100 children have still not been matched with mothers. | More than 100 children have still not been matched with mothers. |
| Some of the parents have said they do not know where their children have been placed, while others have complained that their sons and daughters are living at different locations, forcing them to criss-cross Texas to see them. | Some of the parents have said they do not know where their children have been placed, while others have complained that their sons and daughters are living at different locations, forcing them to criss-cross Texas to see them. |