The Most Disturbing Abuse Case of All Time

My heart goes out to Elizabeth F., who's 73 year old father kept her captive in a hidden underground room for 24 years and fathered 7 children through forced sex with her. The world is so speechless and cannot wrap their minds around this atrocity.

Of the 7 children, 1 died shortly after birth and he burnt the body. He kept 3 of the children upstairs with his wife, and the other 3 were left down below with Elizabeth. DNA tests actually revealed that he was indeed the father of all 6 children, and had led his wife to believe that Elisabeth F. had run away to join a relgious cult.

The evils that are prevelant in this world are sometimes so twisted and far from human dignity that information of this sort just does not connect with the normal human mind. Authorities in Austria - the homeland of what is now termed the "House of Horrors", also cannot yet comprehend what would cause him to do this. The irony is that Elisabeth (the captive daughter), had other siblings who lived in the home, and had no idea that their father was living a "double life".

I find it very hard to beleive that this man would have only sexually abusive tendencies towards one child alone and leave every other child alone. It is totally unheard of that a child molestar is able to "constrain" themselves. I beleive that Mr. Josef F., was an abusive and controlling man, that harmed his wife and other children, and has had them living so much in fear that even upon this discovery - which any mother would suspect - they have yet to "out" the true devil that he is. For him to die quickly in prison would be an easy escape after providing 24 years of terror to this young woman and her children.

It is at times like this that I wonder how there can be a God, and what is it that we are possibly supposed to take away from this story? How can someone like Elisabeth every function again in life - how can her 3 children function? What is the lesson here? Why would God let something like this happen to anyone - and would it not have been better for her die before birthing children in that small and dark room?

All I know is that she must be a strong women to have endured all of that, and I pray for her and those poor children. I hope that she lands a billion dollar deal for a book about her life, and while that is never going to giver her, her life back - it will at least in some very minimal way make up for absolutely everything that she has lost...her mind, her sanity, her innocense, her trust, and her belief in humanity.

News Talk: Polygamy in San Angelo

Creepy. Really creepy. So here it is. The massive 416 child abuse case, with polygamists living in San Angelo, Texas where they believe that Jeff Warren is the man that will lead them to salvation. Every time I see this on the news I can't even begin to imagine this clash of worlds in our modern judicial system.

I envision all of these women walking out of aJane Austin novel - but more in like a really creepy occult kind of way. I mean just picture the court hearings - a whole bunch of posh Texan lawyers in their fancy Armani suits, and about 1000 women carrying hairdos from the 1800's wearing clothe they have sewn themselves. The contradictions in this arrangement would be worthwhile of a portrait!

While I absolutely DO NOT agree with polygamy, I do respect relgious practice even if there are aspects about them that I do not agree. I believe that we should all be entitled to practice and believe whatever it is that we want to believe so long as we are not causing harm to ourselves or others. This is where the line though becomes very foggy. Including government interference in religious practices, because I also believe that church and state should have nothing to do with one another.

I think that this particular group of polygamists, and a number of these groups that have been exposed and at the forefront of media attention, really require us as a society to evaluate where the line between religion and practice, and government and religion intervene. While I am not here to comment on the practice of polygamy, I will note that for the children involved in this matter - there is no winning for them either way. If they return to their compound and there really was child abuse occuring, they are now again in dangerous and compromising situations. If there is abuse occuring, and they do not allow the children to return the compound, their societal values, social norms, moral practices, and spiritual beliefs do not coincide with the real world. Where do they fit in???

For a younger child (2-5), there may be some hope because they will be young enough to adapt. What happens to the children that are over the age of 10 - or even those who are 16 or 17? Will they ever be able to adapt to a life that doesn't beleive in dominant men, multiple women in a relationship, and fathering more children that most people have in their extended families? This is a sad and scary situation, and definitely one that will go down in the history books.

Notably Canada has hit the radar, as it would appears that BC, has some polygamist groups there - some that may be involved in this 416 child case! The interviews with the women of this compound give you major insight into their training of obeidience. They cleverly avert questions, and intervene if they feel that someone is providing too much information to the press, claim that all they want is their children to be with them - but never once asking what their child might be feeling, or might be needing. The tours of their "clean" homes show no sign of child activity, devoid of toys or anything that would resemble a normal childs life.

I believe that these women's obsession with cleanliness (which if you watch some of their interviews where they claim that they are just like everyone else; as in they have fun, love their families, and teach their children the importance of cleanliness), has to do with the fact they know just how "dirty" their situation is - and by situation I mean feeling guilt for allowing their young daughters to have sex with 55 year old men.

I can go on and on - but I will wait to see how this all pans out... and lets just hope that whatever comes of it, it will set a precendent in dealing with all of these other groups who are abusing their families and children, and abusing provisions that governments have for those in need.