Oprah - young girls/old men

**forestdale** · 03-13-2005, 03:18 PM

I watched an oprah show last week about cults in america and canada. I'm not sure how old the program was, it looked like it was this year's.

In these cults, young girls were being made to marry old men and have many babies. The cults were called religious cults but they seemed to worship the men in them. At one point in the program they showed a small group of about 6 girls all singing praise to their father. "Daddy we adore you" etc. The father was sitting there with another daughter on his lap just soaking it all up. It made me feel sick. Apparently these cults encourage incest and underage marriage. Some of the girls who escaped from these cults said they were forced into marriage at 14 or 15 and had to have babies straight away. Some girls were married to their cousins and some were traded to older men. Like 14 year old girls with men or 50! Ugh.

Did anyone else see this program? I feel so sorry for these girls as they know no different and are trapped in a life of child bearing whether they want it or not. But the thing that got me the most, apart from the incest, was that they had to praise and worship the men! Far out. How do they get away with that? Aren't there laws against incest and underage marriage?

**DaisyLady** · 03-13-2005, 03:38 PM

Ugh...glad I didn't see that one! It's scary to see that they are doing this in the name of "religion". This is just evil.

**AmyMCGS** · 03-13-2005, 03:39 PM

I didn't see that particular program, but I saw a similar story on a another show a few months ago.

Apparently there are now undercover agents working with the girls who "escape" to get other girls out of that environment. They would visit the girls when their husbands weren't home, talk to them, convince them to escape, and then take them away to safe houses-- all of that was a process over several months. They said it's really hard, though, because if a husband suspects that his wife has been talking to outsiders, she could get beaten or worse.

There are laws against incest and underage marriage. They get around the underage part if parents give consent. Also, if the man is "married" more than once, it is not a legal marriage, it's only within their church. Legally, only the first wife counts.

The praising the men part wasn't on the show I watched-- that's just messed up! Those girls have no choices and no control of their own lives. How awful!

**homesteadmamma** · 03-13-2005, 03:51 PM

Rhonda I seen the program the first time it was on. It made me sick to see how woman and girls are treated.

It sickens me what is done in the name of "religion". These men have many wives (against Canadian laws), many children and they treat their "wives" as sex objects. As far as I'm concerned its sexual abuse whether the girl is 12 or whether the woman is of age. Its absolutely horrible!!

As Chriss says "it is evil".

**forestdale** · 03-13-2005, 04:16 PM

I'm so pleased I wasn't the only one horridied by this program. Amy, it's good that there are agents working to get these girls out but I don't understand why it's just not shut down. Aren't there laws on underage sex?

**forestdale** · 03-13-2005, 04:19 PM

grrrrrr@my spelling

**Sara Noel** · 03-13-2005, 09:02 PM

I saw a similar show, but it was quite some time ago. It was like a large commune of incest and sounds quite similar to the story you watched.

It was sickening. It was basically a polygamy colony. If I remember correctly the "lead male" was in prison and I think he died a few yrs ago. I'm not positive, but seems I remember that.

I also seem to remember them living in Colorado or Utah and some time in Canada.

I wish I could remember, but it sure sounds like what you're talking about.

**forestdale** · 03-13-2005, 11:06 PM

These cults on the oprah show were in washington state, some were in colorado and some just over the canadian border near the washington ones. they swapped girls to get "fresh blood". Honestly, it makes me feel sick knowing this is being condoned by the government. If these girls are underage, even if they're married, why can't the police step in an arrest these disgusting jerks for having sex with a minor?

I really don't understand it as I thought america and canada would protect their children from sexual predators. Is it because these people are operating under the protection of a church that nothing is done to help these little girls?

**lucy979** · 03-14-2005, 07:49 AM

I think it's hard to get proof in these kinds of cases. The women don't want to speak out because they've been brought up to be so scared. Or they actually think it's ok.

I'm not sure why they can't stop it either. I think it's horrible and wrong and really something should be done.

**AmyMCGS** · 03-14-2005, 08:56 AM

I think I saw the same show Sara saw-- one of the guys was in prison, and his wives were left to fend for themselves with no income and no education.

I think "freedom of religion" probably ties the hands of the authorities somewhat, but, if the girls are really young it does seem that there should be legal consequences. They don't stop Amish or other religious groups from marrying at 15 (granted that's not an abuse situation), and I believe it's because of religious protection. And if the parents are giving consent for the marriages, then, I don't know if the law can interfere. I wonder about the second or third wives, though? If they're not legally married, it seems like those sexual encounters would be illegal because the girls are so young.

I'm just rambling here, trying to figure it out....

At any rate, it's sad and a little scary to me that this goes on.

**PrairieRose** · 03-14-2005, 10:43 AM

Count me in as another appalled person after watching a show similar to this one. I think the "freedom of religion" and parental consent do play a huge role but as aforementioned as well there are so few of these women who will speak out b/c of being shunned by their entire family unit and community. Also, I've heard that if there is concern that one will speak out that they fear for their lives as well. It makes no sense to me that in this day in age how we can't stop such unacceptable practices. Even though we live in an imperfect society, the fact that we can talk about this openly warms my heart.

**homesteadmamma** · 03-14-2005, 12:53 PM

We've had cases where the mounties have stepped in only to have the girls return to what is "familiar" to them. Many WILL NOT speak out against those who are abusing because they live under such fear.

Some have left once they turned 18 only to lose everything they had and they are not allowed to have contact with anyone in the commune again, even if its their own child.

There was a recent program on tv just a couple months ago where one of the woman had finally left. When she left she lost her daughter who was moved to the States. She is still trying to find her. She also lives in fear of what will happen to her. Very difficult situation to be in.

**Michele Annette** · 03-14-2005, 02:15 PM

How terrible! I haven't seen this episode, but what an awful thing to have happen to someone's life.

**pip** · 03-14-2005, 03:16 PM

Yucky!!!!!

**Missy** · 03-14-2005, 03:43 PM

i haven't seen these shows. But it seems maybe a year or two? (more?) back I saw something on one of those "dateline" "20/20" type shows that featured this type of colony. it was in my opinion, repulsive. I can't imagine living that way.