A spokesman for Texas Child Protective Services has reported that 31 of the 53 teens from the polygamist sect Yearning for Zion Ranch are pregnant or mothers. That’s nearly 60% of girls between 14 and 17.
According to the AP, Texas officials have had all 463 children living on the ranch in custody for three weeks, following the frantic phone call of a 16-year-old girl who was pregnant again by a 50-year-old man considered to be her "spiritual husband."
Recently three male members of the sect spoke with CBS Early Show anchor Maggie Rodriguez. When asked about whether they were aware that it was illegal to have sex with a minor, one man replied:
"Yes, many of us perhaps were not even aware of such a law, but yes, we have been made very aware in the last two weeks and we do reconsider — yes.”
The CBS broadcast video is available here.
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