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Texan sect reunions within days Delay to polygamist sect reunions
(about 8 hours later)
More than 400 children taken into care from a polygamist sect in Texas can rejoin their parents from Monday, state officials have announced. Parents hopes of quick reunions with some 400 children removed from a polygamist sect's Texan ranch have been hit by a legal row over restrictions.
The state's supreme court ruled earlier that protection agents had had no authority to seize the children in a raid on the ranch where they all lived. The state's supreme court ruled earlier that agents had had no authority to seize the children in a raid in April.
State officials had accused adult sect members of abusing children. Families hoped to reunite on Monday but a judge has ruled 38 of the mothers, scattered across Texas, must personally sign up to a set of conditions.
State officials accused sect members of abusing children on the ranch.
But correspondents say that following the supreme court's ruling, the biggest child custody case in US history has effectively collapsed.
'Not simple'
The children, aged between six months and 17 years, have spent nearly two months away from their families.The children, aged between six months and 17 years, have spent nearly two months away from their families.
But the court attached restrictions to the reunions. Heavily armed police were on hand during the raid in AprilTexas District Judge Barbara Walther said she would sign the agreement authorising the children's return, but only after the 38 mothers who filed the complaint against the state had signed up to the restrictions.
Children will be allowed back home to the ranch near Eldorado but they must not be taken out of Texas and their parents must agree to take parenting classes. Under the rules - agreed by the families' lawyers and state child-welfare officials - children will be allowed back home to the ranch near Eldorado but they must not be taken out of Texas and their parents must agree to take parenting classes.
Lawyers for the parents said the new requirement made timing for the reunions uncertain.
"It's not as simple as going across the street and setting up a booth," said lawyer Andrea Sloan.
Removal 'not warranted'Removal 'not warranted'
The biggest child custody case in US history has effectively collapsed, the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani says. Texas child welfare authorities failed to prove the children were victims of an abusive system that forced young girls into polygamous marriages and underage childbirth, and groomed young boys to be future abusers.
Heavily armed police were on hand during the raid in April
Child welfare authorities failed to prove the children were victims of an abusive system that forced young girls into polygamous marriages and underage childbirth, and groomed young boys to be future abusers.
Members of the breakaway Mormon sect that runs the ranch claimed they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs which include polygamy.Members of the breakaway Mormon sect that runs the ranch claimed they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs which include polygamy.
The Texas supreme court ruled that state officials had failed to prove the children faced immediate danger and that therefore seizing them was unwarranted. On Thursday, the Texas supreme court ruled that state officials had failed to prove the children faced immediate danger and that therefore seizing them was unwarranted.
A court order restoring custody to parents applies to only 124 of the children but state officials said about 300 others taken under identical circumstances also will be returned, the Associated Press news agency reports. A court order restoring custody to parents applies to only 124 of the children but state officials said about 300 others taken under identical circumstances also will be returned, the Associated Press news agency reported.
"On the record before us, removal of the children was not warranted," the supreme court said in its ruling issued in the state capital Austin.
Identity confusionIdentity confusion
So far, 168 mothers and 69 fathers of the children have been identified - reflecting the polygamist practices of the sect, AP adds.So far, 168 mothers and 69 fathers of the children have been identified - reflecting the polygamist practices of the sect, AP adds.
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.
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints teaches that polygamy brings glorification in heaven.The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints teaches that polygamy brings glorification in heaven.
The official Mormon Church officially abandoned polygamy more than a century ago.The official Mormon Church officially abandoned polygamy more than a century ago.