Attorneys on the scene are warning that the numbers are extremely unreliable and that those interested in the case should remain cautious about believing these media reports. The tally of women and children has changed almost daily over the past three weeks. Amanda Chisholm, who works for TRLA, said she would be surprised if the actual number of teenage girls who are pregnant or mothers is "anywhere near that high."

Child Protective Services spokesman Darrell Azar admitted that the age of the girls was determined by their attorneys or by looking at the women. "I have seen them myself," he said, "and I don't see any that look like an adult to me."

"My clients told us they were put in a line and looked at," said attorney Julie Balovich. "So I know that is how some of the numbers happened."

Azar also did not know how many girls were pregnant, but acknowledged that it is a small number. In earlier reports, CPS said that three teenagers are pregnant. Salt Lake attorney Rod Parker, a spokesman for the FLDS, said that of the three, one teenager refused to take a pregnancy test, one is 18 and the other is 17.

One problem in determining the ages of the girls is that some women may be claiming to be minors in order to stay with their children. TRLA attorney Julie Balovich said one woman now deemed to be a teenager is a 24-year-old woman who is pregnant. FLDS member Willie Jessop contends the state's tally also includes a 28-year-old whom the state has listed as being 17.

Another problem in these tallies is that the state is using a list which has been compiled of 20 minors and young women who conceived their first child between the ages of 13 and 16. The list includes women who had children ten or more years ago. For example, one woman was 13 when she conceived a child who was born in 1997! Another woman was 14 when she conceived a child born in 2000--eight years ago. Some of the women conceived children in other states, or before the change in Texas law regarding the age of consent. An interesting point to me would be how the age of pregnancy of the FLDS has changed over time, or since the arrest of Warren Jeffs. Is the sect attempting to comply with the laws of the state?

A final consideration for many is the number that was released regarding the teenaged boys in custody. The media is reporting that while there are 53 girls between those ages there are only 17 boys. I am wondering why they are not including the mentioning the 25 adolescent boys who were taken away from the main group very early in this raid and placed on a boys' ranch. Perhaps there are other boys who are away working and are not "lost." This is another example of half-truths intended to mislead the public.

I am really getting so annoyed with this media hype, playing on the concern of Americans for abused children. I prefer to look at this in the light of a wider world view. Throughout the world and over time and cultures, girls who begin menarche are considered women. They begin to marry and bear children. It has been in the past 100 years only that we have decided that young girls should have more choice and should put off childbearing until later. As a feminist, I believe this is a good thing. But who is to say that it is the only true and proper choice? Some studies have shown that childbearing at younger ages is healthier and more optimal for infant and mother. I believe in the right of this group to choose their family patterns and customs. Teaching their children to submit is not abuse, it is a different lifestyle choice. There are many tenets of this faith which are clearly healthier and more moral than mainstream teachings.

Ever since this case began, I have felt that persecution has been rampant. This is not the way to solve problems or difficulties within the religion. True believers will only cling to their faith more adamantly, seek to withdraw and hide from society and bear wounds from this forced separation for generations.

The media bias in the child seizure case has now been firmly established. Latest headlines to be splashed across the news: "31 of 53 teen girls at FLDS ranch has been pregnant."

This is classic misinformation, misleading with statistics and sensationalism. Consider this classic: "98% of wives have been raped, beaten, annoyed, abused, or murdered by their husbands". Yes, true, hum?

Let us examine the sensationalist claim about the pregnant teens. So 31 of 53 girls aged 14-17 have been pregnant? Proof of rampant child abuse, right? Hardly. What if all 31 of them were aged 17 and married? The article doesn't mention their exact ages, so there is no way to conclude anything at all. We are supposed to be so stupid as to assume they are all knocked up 14 year olds?

Let's consider the worst case scenario: some 14 and 15 year olds have had babies. Here is what the news is not wanting you to know: in Texas, it was legal for 14 year olds to marry up until 2005! So even if some 14 and 15 year olds had kids, it may have been perfectly legal at the time.

You think the government wouldn't be trying to mislead here? Fact: they are including in their statistics a woman who had her child in 1993.

But they figure all they have to do is splash a sensationalist headline every now and then, and the American people will buy into this hook, line, and sinker! Well guess what, the American people aren't that dumb, and we are paying attention.

Releasing such sickening and pathetic propaganda to attempt to cover up their own malfeasance is disgusting and wrong.

Attorney Rod Parker reveals some relevant details, such as the government failing to follow up on their pledge to allow breast-feeding mothers access to their own infants:

"They need to let those people out," Parker said. Parker also refuted CPS' description of an orderly, calm separation of mothers and children at the coliseum. He said it was "complete pandemonium."

As the children, all younger than 5, figured out what was happening, they started screaming and CPS workers had to pry many away from their mothers. "This is inhuman. This is un-American," said Parker, who also said a civil rights lawsuit is possible.

He also said CPS assured nursing mothers they would be able to take breast milk to their infants but, as of early Friday, had been given no information on where the children had been taken. They also were told sibling groups would be kept together. Thirteen children from one family were sent to five locations, he said.

The more I read about this situation, the sicker I get. The freedoms your neighbor loses are your freedoms too, America. Wake up! - Justin Halter

The first day of the 14 day hearing an attorney told the judge she had filed an application for writ of habeas corpus for a bunch of women. I don't recall how many. She said they were over 18 and had been disbelieved by CPS and so they were not able to attend the hearing. Shje had birth certificates, drivers licenses and social security cards to prove their age. The judge refused to take up the writ saying, "in this day of identity theft" do you really expect me to believe those documents? I was appalled. How does she expect them to prove their ages if not by government issued documents? - Comment of a Texan

[I don't offer this as authoritatively the last word on the subject but is the kind of thing I generally have encountered multiple times and just don't post]