Polygamist alleges persecution

By THE CANADIAN PRESS
BOUNTIFUL, B.C. -- The leader of a breakaway religious sect in British Columbia says the decision of the B.C. Crown to charge him for practising polygamy is religious persecution.

Winston Blackmore said there are tens of thousands of polygamists across the country but his religious sect is being targeted, disregarding his basic charter right to religious freedom.

"This is not about polygamy," Blackmore said in a statement to media yesterday. "To us this is about religious persecution."

Read entire story here: Winnipeg Sun

Okay, so who gives a rat's ass how many wives (or husbands) one has? Why does the government even care? Some may argue it's wrong? To whom?

If these peeps don't marry then no problem? What a hypocritical society we live in. Government, crown, find something else to do with your time. Surely there are higher priorities than polygamists to worry about. How be you spend your time prosecuting real criminals.

I wonder just how much choice the women have....the young boys too, for that matter. Aren't they kicked out of the group when they reach 16 years of age?

Seems more to this than religion...or, religion is being used as an excuse for seriously questionable behaviour.

Other religious groups have their peccadilloes as well. If women and children are forced to do something against their will that is one thing. Prosecute that act. The simple fact that one has many married partners is nobodies business in my opinion.

What if the children become brainwashed and made to marry when they're 14?

grumpy old man wrote: If women and children are forced to do something against their will that is one thing. .

uhh..thats what they are targetting him for. the how many he is married too is just a sideline item.

I agree with GOM. When it comes to issues about morals, the first decision is whose morals do we follow. If these wives are too young to form consent, then by all means, prosecute the bastard, but who decides its wrong. There are many things that the law allows which I find personally repugnant, but life goes on.

Besides, the best this guy can do is hope that he dies before his wives get older and start bitching at him all the time. Can you imagine??

I believe that the prosecution is based on violating the rights of the women if I'm not mistaken.

I kinda' get the feeling that from birth, the girls are indoctrinated with very specific ideas...made to drink the kool-aid if you will.

Imho, that's wrong.

Doing this under the guise of some religious belief is bullshit. Its not up to the church to brainwash kids, thats what parents are for.

In this case the parents and the church are the same thing

Just what we need! Some holy roller checking out what consenting adults are doing!
The Globe and mail today nailed it! There is nothing going on that should concern the government!
What a waste of resources!
No one there marries under age! no one marries someone that they do not want to marry! Most marriages there are 1 man and 1 woman!
If one woman has 5 husbands or vice versa, who are we to judge what is right, wrong or moral! Our bill of rights gives us that right!

Anybody who doesn't see what this is really about is also drinking the kool-aid. I've seen a few documentaries on the polygamous sects, and every single one I've seen is set up to force morally repugnant views on children from a very young age. These sects are nothing more than a means to an ends for some very sick pedophillic individuals.

When your brainwashing young girls from a young age into believing that they can serve god in no better way than to marry a 60 year old man, along with her sisters.....that's just plain f'ed up.

They can't get the sicko's on the underage aspect cause they wait till the girls are 16 to marry them, and the parents who are also part of the sect agree to the marriage. But just because the girls are "legally" able to marry does not make this any less morally repugnant in my opinion.

Why would anyone stand up for these sick bastards?

I believe there are two stories here. The one grumpyrom alludes to and children. Then there are the true polygamists who take multiple partners.

But in the interests of engaged debate how do we reconcile other peoples in our world that take 11 year old wives as part of their centuries old culture?

Most of the civilized western world believes as grumpyrom does: it is plain wrong. But who are we to impose our morals on another people?

Maybe that is another thread.

This thread is about polygamists. Should a man be legally allowed to marry multiple wives? And should a woman be allowed to legally marry multiple husbands?

rosencrentz wrote:Just what we need! Some holy roller checking out what consenting adults are doing!
The Globe and mail today nailed it! There is nothing going on that should concern the government!
What a waste of resources!
No one there marries under age! no one marries someone that they do not want to marry! Most marriages there are 1 man and 1 woman!
If one woman has 5 husbands or vice versa, who are we to judge what is right, wrong or moral! Our bill of rights gives us that right!

Sad to say polygamy is against the law and the charter doe,s not give you the right, to break it . Otherwise I agree with you

Ever hear the expression "The law is an ass"?

Not saying it needs to be changed to allow this but would be the demand by its' citizenry...

Same as The law is the law , change it if you don't like .. And if you want to change the charter then do it on your dime not mine .
Canadians are getting so comfy with it is my rights those are the ones who will do society in as we know it . The Criminal Code will supersede the Charter every time , less a judge strikes a law invalid, or charter wrong. At which time the crown can appeal or change wording and enforcement .

sheesh this is so stupid.

Just live with the women/men. And if your religion dictates you MUST be married. Then religous marry and just dont attempt to register your marriage with the government. No LAW BROKEN.

There are many issues contained within your post Pavolo. The point I'm making is the laws need to be changed when its citizens demand so. I'm not referring to the rights criminals keep demanding. That is a thread for another day.

I understand laws are frequently changed. Look at the changes Stephen Joseph Harper is trying to revise. That is the right thing to do IMO.

Deank wrote:sheesh this is so stupid.

Just live with the women/men. And if your religion dictates you MUST be married. Then religous marry and just dont attempt to register your marriage with the government. No LAW BROKEN.

Cept that your marriage is not legal and the person who performed it would be in jail for not registering it .

Deank wrote:sheesh this is so stupid.

Just live with the women/men. And if your religion dictates you MUST be married. Then religous marry and just dont attempt to register your marriage with the government. No LAW BROKEN.

That lends credence to the notion the law is an ass. Just the notion that one man can take several wives (in common law) and it does not break any law?

But in the eyes of the law she is not his wife , she is a partner . Has much the same rights but not when it comes to tax's and wills .

If I am not mistaken, the group that came from Germany in the late 1800's , came because they were being harassed for their beliefs in polygammy.
I believe, that they simply stopped getting married, but simply lived together, hence they were not breaking the right wing Christian beliefs.
In todays market half of the couples living together simply have not married.
The government should keep its nose out of consenting adults bedrooms! Men married to men/women/ and same for women's choices!
Protect the young- absolutely, but who is to say what is right and wrong- Christians, Muslims, Tutsoo, Huuto, ??

Different strokes for different folks!!

Does anyone know upon which religious/biblical/other teachings the polygimists base their argument?

Winston Blackmore can suck my (insert body part here).....ASSHOLE....MISOGYNIST....PEDOPHILE.....oh my - that felt good. I think I will go have a cuppa tea and a biscuit now.

Miz point wrote:Winston Blackmore can suck my (insert body part here).....ASSHOLE....MISOGYNIST....PEDOPHILE.....oh my - that felt good. I think I will go have a cuppa tea and a biscuit now.

I'd suggest green tea with blueberries, and Walkers Oatflake & Cranberry Biscuits.

Nah....Earl Grey and those chocolate covered sticks.....