Texas officials have told the mothers of the children rescued from a polygamist sect that they need to abandon some of their religious teachings or they will lose custody of their kids.
Some lawyers believe this could mean women would never be able to return to the Yearning for Zion ranch in Eldorado, and would have to choose between some of their beliefs and their children.
But other experts said adults who have tolerated underage “marriages” of girls to older men and apparently have cast out teenage boys might have forfeited all rights to raise their children – and are lucky to be given a shot at regaining their youngsters.
In advance of court hearings that begin Monday, Child Protective Services has drafted 10 goals and 14 tasks that parents will have to work toward to regain custody of their children.