The US Embassy estimates there are about 300 Americans in Bountiful loyal to Blackmore and 200 others who follow Jeffs, who is in jail awaiting trial in Arizona on four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. “We believe that our religion is being discriminated against and that there are many government officials working with each other to carry out a vendetta of hatred and are determined to end our way of life.” “And if someone says that it’s contrary to their religion, let a judge make that decision.”įLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said Oler will face his accusers. The charges were thrown out later, owing to questions about how the Crown selected its prosecutors. “I’ve always taken the position that’s a valid offense in law,” Oppal said. Blackmore and another community leader, James Oler, were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in January 2009 and charged with polygamy. Oppal said some legal experts believe polygamy charges won’t withstand a constitutional challenge in Canada over the issue of freedom of religion. Last June, Oppal appointed a special prosecutor to look into allegations of criminal abuse at Bountiful despite two earlier legal opinions that said it would be difficult to proceed with criminal charges for polygamy itself.īlackmore openly acknowledges having numerous wives and dozens of children, but has said his community abhors the sexual abuse of children. Mormons renounced polygamy in 1890 as a condition of Utah’s statehood. But over the past two decades, Blackmore has spent hundreds of thousands of. Even though many of the town’s residents are related or have the same last name, followers of the two leaders are splintered and are not allowed to talk to each other.įLDS members practice polygamy in arranged marriages, a tradition tied to the early theology of the Mormon church. It’s expensive having such a large family 149 children and 27 wives.
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