General

B.C. polygamy case to hear from women

Expected to defend “plural marriage,” call for decriminalization

Women from the fundamentalist Mormon community of Bountiful, B.C. will testify in court on Monday on the constitutionality of Canada’s anti-polygamy law. For the last two months, the B.C. Supreme Court has heard testimony from people who have parted ways with Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and left Bountiful. They decry the practice of polygamy as physically and emotionally abusive to women and their children. However, women belonging to the fundamentalist Mormon community in Bountiful who are testifying are expected to defend polygamy as an essential component of their faith that has not been forced on them. “Although I know I have the option to say yes or no to the person I am called to the prophet to marry, I believe the prophet is inspired of God on these matters,” wrote a 25 year-old woman known only as witness No. 11 in an affidavit. Police charged Winston Blackmore and James Oler, two FLDS leaders, with polygamy two years ago, but the charges were dropped. Mainstream Mormons renounced polygamy more than a hundred years ago.

CBC News

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