Just when it seemed like a Schleicher County grand jury might be making the kind of unspectacular progress grand juries are supposed to make in the FLDS raid on the Yearning For Zion ranch where Warren Jeffs bragged, with pictures, about his religious right to enjoy “spiritual marriages” to underage girls, somewhere between the cops being called and the day the headlines and perp walks start, a woman with serious chops in the study of religious cults pointed out exactly how the Texas Supreme Court has opened the door to all manner of religions who want to abuse children as part of their faith. Not only did the TSC order more than 420 children returned to the FLDS compound, it has now overturned damages awarded a 17-year-old girl who was injured during an “exorcism”.

PHILADELPHIA - By sending the children in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints back home, Texas has opened up the doors to groups who want religious protection for abusing children, a leading church/state scholar said Saturday.

Marci Hamilton, a professor at Princeton and Yeshiva University’s Cardozo Law School, told a conference of the International Cultic Studies Association that the Texas Supreme Court’s decision to release the FLDS children from foster care paired with a ruling Friday that tossed out an award for injuries a teenager suffered during an exorcism made a dangerous statement.
“When you add yesterday’s decision to FLDS, the state of the Texas has just sent out an engraved invitation to any group who wants to abuse children,” Hamilton said. The two decisions make “Texas a very dangerous place for children.”
The other decision Hamilton pointed to came down Friday, when the Texas high court overturned a lower-court ruling awarding damages to a 17-year-old girl who was held down and injured during an exorcism.

Hamilton’s remarks came at a Philadelphia conference where social workers and scholars, sociologists and psychiatrists had gathered to study cults and similar groups, including but not limited to the FLDS.

Those of you who live in civilized states with laws upheld by judges on benches where the fear of re-election difficulties doesn’t color every consideration undertaken should be thankful for your blessings.

I have before posted links to the people in Texas who at the very least deserve to lose their sinecures in this fall’s elections. The Texas Supreme Court should be at the very top of every voter’s list.

Turn out every incumbent on the ballot if you live in Texas this fall, and you will be doing your state a favor.